Selecting Tumor-Specific Molecular Targets in Pancreatic Adenocarcinoma: Paving the Way for Image-Guided Pancreatic Surgery

Mol Imaging Biol. 2016 Dec;18(6):807-819. doi: 10.1007/s11307-016-0959-4.

Abstract

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to identify suitable molecular targets for tumor-specific imaging of pancreatic adenocarcinoma.

Procedures: The expression of eight potential imaging targets was assessed by the target selection criteria (TASC)-score and immunohistochemical analysis in normal pancreatic tissue (n = 9), pancreatic (n = 137), and periampullary (n = 28) adenocarcinoma.

Results: Integrin αvβ6, carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA), epithelial growth factor receptor (EGFR), and urokinase plasminogen activator receptor (uPAR) showed a significantly higher (all p < 0.001) expression in pancreatic adenocarcinoma compared to normal pancreatic tissue and were confirmed by the TASC score as promising imaging targets. Furthermore, these biomarkers were expressed in respectively 88 %, 71 %, 69 %, and 67 % of the pancreatic adenocarcinoma patients.

Conclusions: The results of this study show that integrin αvβ6, CEA, EGFR, and uPAR are suitable targets for tumor-specific imaging of pancreatic adenocarcinoma.

Keywords: Carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA); Epithelial growth factor receptor (EGFR); Image-guided surgery; Immunohistochemistry; Integrin αvβ6; Molecular imaging; Pancreatic adenocarcinoma; Periampullary adenocarcinoma; Urokinase plasminogen activator receptor (uPAR).

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adenocarcinoma / surgery*
  • Aged
  • Biomarkers, Tumor / metabolism
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Immunohistochemistry
  • Male
  • Molecular Targeted Therapy*
  • Neoplasm Proteins / metabolism
  • Pancreatic Neoplasms / surgery*
  • Surgery, Computer-Assisted*

Substances

  • Biomarkers, Tumor
  • Neoplasm Proteins