MECHANISMS OF THE NERVE PLEXUS INVASION BY GASTROINTESTINAL CANCERS

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A migration assay with Boyden chamber and a growth assay were performed on pancreatic cancer cell lines, AsPC-1 and BxPC-3. The effects of nerve growth factor (NGF) on the pancreatic cancer cell migration and cell growth were evaluated. NGF showed no significant effects on pancreatic cancer cell migration and cell growth. PC-12 cell derived from pheochromocytoma is known to possess a character of nerve cells. After PC-12 cells differentiated to nerve-like cells, they were set in the lower chamber of the Boyden chamber. A migration assay for pancreatic cancer cells were performed. The addition of differentiated PC-cells in the lower chamber had no effects on the pancreatic cancer cell migration. NCAM is expressed in the nerve cells. The expression of NCAM in the pancreatic cancer tissue was examined immunohistochemically. Approximately 60% of 40 cases of pancreatic cancer expressed NCAM. Western blot and RT-PCR examined thd expressions of NCAM in pancreatic cancer cell lines, and a number of pancreatic cancer cells expressed NCAM. Intraoperative rapid immunohistochemistry for cytokelatin-19 in nerve plexus were tested. The micrometastases in the plexus were detected by this method when HE stain results negative. This method might give an information if additional radiation therapy is necessary after surgical resection of the pancreatic cancer.