Aim: To test the association of LMX1A and osteopontin (OPN) expression with histologic differentiation or pathologic stage in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma.
Methods: Immunohistochemical analysis was performed to determine LMX1A and OPN expression in 100 surgical specimens obtained from Chinese patients with well-differentiated (n=15), moderately differentiated (n=65), and poorly differentiated (n=20) pancreatic ductal adenocarcinomas.
Results: LMX1A and OPN immunoreactivities were undetectable in normal pancreatic glandular epithelia. Stronger immunostaining for LMX1A and OPN was associated with advanced nuclear grades of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinomas (70.7 and 87.1 for grade I, 109.8 and 118.3 for grade II, and 171.3 and 183.8 for grade III), and advanced TNM and American Joint Committee on Cancer stages of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinomas.
Conclusions: A higher expression of LMX1A and OPN is well correlated with histologic grade and pathologic stage of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinomas.