Clinicopathological and immunohistochemical analysis of malignant features in mucinous cystic tumors of the pancreas

BACKGROUND/AIMS: To investigate the malignancy of mucinous cystic tumors (MCTs) of the pancreas, we examined clinicopathological features and immunohistochemical findings of MCT. METHODOLOGY: We analyzed the expression of p53 protein, proliferating cell nuclear antigen, alpha6-integrin subunit, alpha5beta1-integrin, and interleukin-1 receptor type I in tumor specimens from eight patients with MCT. RESULTS: The tumors were classified as mucinous cyst adenoma (n=6) or mucinous cyst adenocarcinoma (n=2). The actuarial five-year survival rate was 83.3%. All in eight MCTs had 'ovarian-type' stroma in the cyst wall. The alpha6-integrin subunit and p53 protein were expressed in adenocarcinoma tissues of MCTs, and in two adenomas the alpha6-integrin subunit and p53 protein were also co-expressed. CONCLUSIONS: Our present results indicate that coexpression of the alpha6-integrin subunit and p53 protein should be appreciated as an indicator of malignancy in MCTs.