RESUMO
<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the association of nerve growth factor (NGF) expression with perineural invasion and pain in pancreatic cancer.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>NGF expression was detected by Northern blotting and immunohistochemistry in 28 pancreatic cancer and 20 normal pancreatic tissue samples. Correlation analysis of the results with the extent of perineural invasion, pain and histopathologic characteristics of the tumor was performed.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Northern blot analysis revealed that NGF levels in pancreatic cancer tissues increased by 3.1 folds in comparison with normal pancreas tissue (P<0.05), and immunohistochemistry detected the presence of obvious NGF expression in the cytoplasm of pancreatic cancer cells. Tumors with high NGF expression were associated with more frequent perineural invasion (P<0.01), and increased NGF expression was related to more intense pain (P<0.01).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Increased NGF expression may contribute to perineural invasion and pain in pancreatic cancer.</p>