| Abstract: | The expression of cripto, a member of the epidermal growth factor (EGF) family, was examined by immunohistochemistry in benign lesions and carcinomas of the gall bladder. Cripto expression was detected in 6 (67 per cent) of 9 hyperplasias, 4 (58 per cent) of 7 adenomas, and 89 (68 per cent) of 132 adenocarcinomas of the gall bladder. The degree of cripto expression was not correlated with depth of tumour invasion, tumour stage or patient prognosis. The incidence of cases with cripto expression was significantly higher in papillary and well-differentiated adenocarcinomas (positive 73 per cent; strongly positive 38 per cent) than in moderately and poorly differentiated adenocarcinomas (positive 54 per cent; strongly positive 17 per cent) ( P <0·05). These results suggest that cripto expression may not relate to progression in gall bladder carcinomas, but may be associated with tumour differentiation. |
