Expression of NKX2. 2 protein in gastrointestinal, pancreatic and esophageal neuroendocrine tumors / 临床与实验病理学杂志

ABSTRACT

Purpose To detect the expression of NKX2. 2 protein in gastrointestinal, pancreatic and esophageal neuroendocrine tumors and the correlation between the expression of NKX2. 2 and the clinicopathologic parameters. Methods 41 cases of gastrointestinal, pancreatic and esophageal neuroendocrine tumors were collected. The expression of NKX2. 2, Syn and CgA in neuroendocrine tumor samples were checked by using immunohistochemical staining. Results The positive expression of NKX2. 2 protein was localized in the nucleus. NKX2. 2 protein showed positive staining in neuroendocrine tumors of the seven original sites. In the four cases of normal pancreatic islet cells also showed strongly diffuse positive nuclear staining. The positive rates of NKX2. 2, Syn and CgA protein in the small intestine, rectum, pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors were 100%, 100% and 46. 7%, respectively. The positive rates of NKX2. 2 in foregut, midgut and hindgut were 30% and 87% (χ2 = 11. 09, P=0. 001). Positive NKX2. 2 protein expression was not associated with gender, age group, grade, tumor size and lymph node metastasis. Conclusion NKX2. 2, as a new type of neuroendo-crine markers, is obviously superior to CgA in the diagnosis of neuroendocrine tumors in the small bowel, rectum and pancreas. NKX2. 2, Syn and CgA, a panel approach may be beneficial to enhance diagnostic accuracy of the neuroendocrine tumors.