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Expression of TGF‐alpha in neuroendocrine tumours of the distal colon and rectum
Author(s) -
BACK WALTER,
ROHR GERHARD,
BLEYL UWE
Publication year - 2003
Publication title -
apmis
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.909
H-Index - 88
eISSN - 1600-0463
pISSN - 0903-4641
DOI - 10.1034/j.1600-0463.2003.1111003.x
Subject(s) - tgf alpha , biology , epidermal growth factor , transforming growth factor , neuroendocrine tumors , alpha cell , immunohistochemistry , cancer research , in situ hybridization , endocrinology , medicine , rectum , neuroendocrine differentiation , pathology , receptor , gene expression , cancer , immunology , insulin , biochemistry , islet , prostate cancer , gene , beta cell
Aim . Transforming growth factor alpha (TGF‐alpha) has been localized in neuroendocrine L‐cells of the colon and rectum in previous studies. We examined whether neuroendocrine tumours with L‐cell differentiation express TGF‐alpha. Experimental design . Immunohistochemistry was performed for proglucagon‐ and pro‐pancreatic polypeptide derivatives, as well as for TGF‐alpha, and epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) using paraffin sections from 16 neuroendocrine tumours of the colon and rectum. Also, in situ hybridization for TGF‐alpha and proglucagon was carried out. Main results . A strong expression of TGF‐alpha at the protein level can be shown for neuroendocrine tumours of the hindgut. In one third of our cases we found a strong hybridization signal and in two thirds a moderate signal for TGF‐alpha. The immunohistological phenotype concerning gut hormones is highly heterogeneous. Glucagon‐like peptide 2 (GLP2) in our series was the most sensitive immunohistological hormone marker. Major conclusions . The immunophenotype of colorectal neuroendocrine tumours regarding hormone markers is heterogeneous. The expression of TGF‐alpha corresponds to the immunohistological profile of normal L‐cells. TGF‐alpha, especially in the neuroendocrine L‐cells, most probably acts as a multifunctional trophic factor responsible for cellular integrity and survival, and not as an oncogenic growth factor.