Expression of basic fibroblast growth factor (FGF-2)-associated with tumour proliferation in human pancreatic carcinoma.

Basic fibroblast growth factor (FGF-2) is one of the mitogens that facilitate epithelial proliferation and angiogenesis. We analysed the expression of FGF-2 and type I fibroblast growth factor receptor (FGFR1) in 20 selected cases of human pancreatic carcinoma (PC) in connection with proliferation of tumour cells and intratumour endothelial cells (ECs), using immunohistochemistry and in situ hybridization (ISH). By FGF-2 immunostaining, tumour cells were strongly positive in 10 cases (50%). By FGFR1 immunostaining, stromal fibroblasts and ECs occasionally showed positive staining. Tumour cells in 12 cases (60%) were strongly positive. Expression of FGF-2 mRNA, as examined by ISH, was detected in 12 cases (60%) of PC, and its distribution pattern was similar to that of FGF-2 immunostaining. We divided these cases into two groups according to the result of FGF-2 immunostaining, and examined the Ki67 labelling indices of tumour cells and ECs between these two groups. These two proliferative indices were significantly higher in FGF-2-positive than in FGF-2-negative cases (P<0.05, P<0.05, respectively). These findings suggest that the expression of FGF-2 in PC is strongly associated with the proliferation of tumour cells and ECs and its increased expression may give tumour a growth advantage.