[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.