[Cytokeratins 7 and 20 immunohistochemistry in ampullary carcinomas].

UNLABELLED: Ampullary carcinomas (AC) account for 33% of all surgically operable pancreatoduodenal tumors. The 5-year relative survival rate is 50% and tumoral stage is the main prognostic factor. However, among the three AC histological subtypes (intestinal, pancreatobiliary and mixed), a favorable prognostic has been reported for the intestinal subtype.

BACKGROUND

The aims of this study were to determine the prognostic impact of AC histologic subtype and of cytokeratins (CK) 7 and 20 immunostaining profile in these tumors.

PATIENTS AND

METHODS

Clinical data of 54 AC were obtained retrospectively. Macroscopic and histologic documents were reviewed and immunostainings for CK7 and CK20 were performed.

RESULTS

The classification of tumors, according to histological subtype, was: intestinal 26%, pancreatobiliary 65% and mixed 9%. No correlation was found between histological subtype and tumor stage. The 5-year survival rate varied from 100% for intestinal subtype to 35% for pancreatobiliary subtype. A strong correlation (p < 0.0001) was found between histological subtype and CK7/CK20 immunostaining profile. The 5-year survival rate varied from 100% for CK7-/CK20 + AC to 40% for CK7 + /CK20- AC.

CONCLUSION

In our study, the intestinal histological subtype had a favorable prognostic value. CK7/CK20 immunostaining profile was helpful for the identification of histological subtype and appears to provide additional prognostic information.