ABSTRACT
Objective: To explore the expression of nerve growth factor (NGF), its receptor P75NGFR and TrkA in the human pancreatic cancer tissues, and to study the relationship between the expression and clinical-pathological indices. Methods: The expression and morphological distribution of NGF, P75NGFR and TrkA were investgated in 65 pancreatic cancer tissues and 18 normal pancreas and chronic pancreatitis tissues by means of immunohistochemistry; the relationship between the expression and clinical-pathological indices was also investigated. Results: The expression of NGF and TrkA in human pancreatic cancer tissues was higher than that in the normal pancreas and chronic pancreatitis. Expression of P75NGFR had no significant change in the two groups. The expression of NGF was positively correlated with tumor size and was also associated with lymphatic invasion. The expression of P75NGFR and TrkA was closely correlated with lymphatic invasion. We also found that the expression of NGF was correlated with histological differentiation, tumor stage, tumor size and lymphatic invasion; the closest relationship was found between the expression of NGF and tumor size. The expression of P75NGFR was correlated with lymphatic invasion, the expression of TrkA was Correlated with both lymphatic invasion and tumor TNM stage. Patient's prognosis after surgery was mainly correlated with lymphatic invasion and the positive expression of TrkA. Conclusion: NGF, P75NGFR and TrkA participate in the progress of pancreatic cancer. TrkA is closely related to pancreatic cancer and can serve as an important target for gene therapy of pancreatic cancer in the future.