Abstract:
Objective To determine whether microtubule-associated protein 2 (MAP2) and microtubule-associated protein 1B (MAP1B) could be prognostic biomarkers for patients with pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors (PNETs).
Methods With immunohistochemical staining, the expressions of MAP2 and MAP1B were examined in 193 and 120 primary tumors and peritumoral tissues, respectively. Then, the relationship between the expression of each protein and clinicopathological characteristics, including prognosis was analyzed.
Results MAP2 and MAP1B were expressed in 88 of 193 (45.6%) and 77 of 120 (64.2%) tumors, respectively. The expression of MAP2 was significantly associated with the favorable overall survival of patients with PNETs (P=0.012). Moreover, MAP2 expression was associated with the improved overall survival in a subset of patients with stage Ⅱ and stage Ⅲ tumors (P=0.017). The MAP1B expression did not correlate with other clinicopathological features and prognosis.
Conclusion MAP2 could be a novel, independent prognostic biomarker for PNETs.