Changes in the microarchitecture of the pancreatic cancer stroma are linked to neutrophil-dependent reprogramming of stellate cells and reflected by diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging.

ABSTRACT: In pancreatic cancer (PDAC) intratumor infiltration of polymorphonuclear neutrophils (PMN) is associated with histologically apparent alterations of the tumor growth pattern. The aim of this study was to examine possible associations between PMN infiltration, tumor microarchitecture, and water diffusivity in diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging (DW-MRI), and to further asses the underlying mechanisms. Methods: DW-MRI was performed in 33 PDAC patients prior to surgery. In parallel, tissue specimen were examined histologically for growth pattern, azurocidin-positive PMN infiltrates, and the presence of alpha-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA) and metalloproteinase 9 (MMP9)-positive myofibroblastic cells. For confirmation of the histological findings, a tissue microarray of a second cohort

SUBMITTER: Mayer P 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5743457 | biostudies-literature | 2018

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature