Solid-Pseudopapillary Neoplasm of the Pancreas: A 63-Case Analysis of Clinicopathologic and Immunohistochemical Features and Risk Factors of Malignancy

Hongchun Chen; Yuchen Huang; Ningning Yang; Wentian Yan; Ruxue Yang; Shan Zhang; Panpan Yang; Nan Li; Zhenzhong Feng

doi:10.2147/CMAR.S304981

Solid-Pseudopapillary Neoplasm of the Pancreas: A 63-Case Analysis of Clinicopathologic and Immunohistochemical Features and Risk Factors of Malignancy

Cancer Manag Res. 2021 Apr 15:13:3335-3343. doi: 10.2147/CMAR.S304981. eCollection 2021.

Authors

Hongchun Chen^{1

2}, Yuchen Huang^{1

2}, Ningning Yang^{1

2}, Wentian Yan^{1

2}, Ruxue Yang³, Shan Zhang⁴, Panpan Yang⁵, Nan Li^{1

2}, Zhenzhong Feng^{1

2}

Affiliations

¹ Department of Pathology, Bengbu Medical College, Bengbu, Anhui Province, 233000, People's Republic of China.
² Department of Pathology, First Affiliated Hospital of Bengbu Medical College, Bengbu, Anhui Province, 233000, People's Republic of China.
³ Department of Pathology, First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, Anhui Province, 230000, People's Republic of China.
⁴ Department of Pathology, Second People's Hospital of Hefei, Hefei, Anhui Province, 230000, People's Republic of China.
⁵ Department of Pathology, Second Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, Anhui Province, 230000, People's Republic of China.

Abstract

Purpose: Solid-pseudopapillary neoplasm (SPN) of the pancreas, a rare tumor, has low malignant potential. However, some patients develop metastasis and recurrence after resection, with aggressive biological behaviors. This study aimed to explore the features and risk factors associated with the aggressive biological behaviors of SPNs.

Patients and methods: We retrospectively analyzed the clinicopathological and long-term follow-up data of 63 patients diagnosed with SPN at the First Affiliated Hospital of Bengbu Medical College between January 2007 and February 2019.

Results: Sixty-three patients presented atypical clinical symptoms. The median tumor size was 7.0 cm (range, 2.4-17 cm), and imaging features were solid and cystic or solid tumors with uneven density. Frequent and diffuse nuclear LEF1 protein expression (94.2%) was observed with LEF1 having a higher sensitivity and specificity. Overall survival significantly correlated with tumor size, Ki-67 index, and lymph node metastasis (P < 0.05).

Conclusion: SPN is a rare low-grade malignancy with a specific pseudopapillary structure. LEF1 is an effective biomarker of SPNs. Although SPNs generally display indolent biological behavior, a large tumor size, high proliferation index, and lymph node metastasis may be risk factors for the aggressive behavior and poor prognosis of SPN.

Keywords: LEF1; metastasis; overall survival; pancreatic tumor; retrospective study.

Grants and funding

This study was supported by the Natural Science Foundation of Anhui Province (No.1908085MH275); the Key Project of Natural Science Foundation of Bengbu Medical College (BYKF1710); the Joint Science and Technology Project of Bengbu City-Bengbu Medical College (BYLK201812).