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Endoglin as indicator of metastatic neuroendocrine tumors of the pancreas

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Introduction: Neuroendocrine tumors of the pancreas are rare, highly vascularized tumors. Endoglin, a Transforming Growth Factor-β co-receptor, is a marker for angiogenic endothelial cells. Angiogenesis is required for tumor progression and the development of metastases. Recently, endoglin expression was found to be a prognostic marker in pancreatic carcinomas. However, the role of endoglin in neuroendocrine pancreatic tumors has so far not been studied.

Aim(s): To evaluate the expression and localization of endoglin in pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors and to assess the role of this angiogenic marker in the prognosis of the patients.

Materials and methods: Tumor tissues (n=26) obtained from 21 patients with functional (n=16) and non-functional (n=10) pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors were subjected to endoglin immunostaining. Levels of endoglin were determined in tissue extracts (n=27) and pre- (n=16) and postoperative (n=14) serum samples of the patients.

Conference: 7th Annual ENETSConcerence (2010)

Presenting Author:

Authors: Kuiper P, Verspaget H, de Jonge-Muller E, Hawinkels L, Biemond I,

Keywords: endoglin, pancreatic neuroendocrine tumor, angiogenesis, metastases,

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