Expression of Vascular Endothelial Growth Factorand Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor in PancreaticDuctal Adenocarcinomas, Neuroendocrine Tumours andChronic Pancreatitis

Objective: Angiogenesis is a crucial event for pancreatic carcinogenesis, and it also plays an important role in chronic pancreatitis.The aim of our study was to evaluate the mRNA expression of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and epidermal growthfactor receptor (EGFR) in chronic inflammatory or malignant pancreatic pathology in order to elucidate the differences in expressionpatterns and potential clinical implications.Methods: Thirty-five patients who had undergone endoscopic ultrasonography followed by endoscipic ultrasound-guided fineneedle aspiration (EUS-FNA) of focal pancreatic masses were included in the study. VEGF and EGFR mRNA expression levels inthe samples collected by EUS-FNA were analyzed using quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR).Results: VEGF expression was detected in all chronic pancreatitis and adenocarcinoma samples and in only 62.5% of pancreaticneuroendocrine tumors. EGFR expression was detected in only 40% of the chronic pancreatitis cases, 76.9% of adenocarcinomasand in 50% of pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors. Both VEGF and EGFR mRNA levels were significantly higher in pancreaticductal adenocarcinoma than those in normal tissue. VEGF expression inversely correlated with pancreatic ductal adenocarcinomasize, while EGFR expression was related to local invasiveness of adenocarcinoma.Conclusion: Both VEGF and EGFR mRNA expression in EUS-FNA samples may be used as a diagnostic marker associated withinvasiveness in patients with pancreatic adenocarcinoma.