Alfa Cytology is a CRO company comprised of scientists, oncologists, and bioinformaticians. We are dedicated to helping researchers and professionals understand pancreatic cancer (PC) biology, explore new PC therapeutics and strategies, and develop new PC biomarkers. We are now offering biospecimens collection and processing, histology, immunostaining, and imaging services to support basic and translational PC research projects. Based on advanced platforms and years of experience in the PC field, we are committed to providing our customers with optimal customized services to meet the specific needs of their projects.
Overview of pancreatic neoplasms
Pancreatic neoplasms are broad-spectrum in nature and are usually classified into epithelial and non-epithelial based on their histological differentiation. Epithelial neoplasms can be endocrine or exocrine, and the exocrine tumor group is further divided into alveolar and ductal neoplasms. Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is the most common type of pancreatic malignancy, accounting for >95% of deaths from PC. Therefore, as the most common type of PC, PDAC is usually referred to as PC. PDAC has three best-characterized precursors that have unique clinical, pathological, and molecular features, including intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasms (IPMN), pancreatic intraepithelial neoplasia (PanIN), and mucinous cystic neoplasms (MCN). Approximately 60-70% of PC occur in the head of the pancreas, with the remainder arising in the body (15%) and tail (15%) of the pancreas.
Fig1. Progression model of PDAC from normal epithelium to invasively growing tumor. ( Ottenhof, N. A., et al., 2011)
Histomorphology of PDAC
Microscopically, PDAC consists of atypical tubular glands resembling medium or smaller pancreatic ducts. And the growth pattern is clearly different between and within tumors. Irregular PDAC tumor glands usually (mainly in well-differentiated and moderately differentiated PDAC) embed a significant desmoplastic stroma that is composed of stromal cells, inflammatory cells, and extracellular matrix proteins and contributes to the aggressive biological behavior of this tumor. Histopathological grading of PDAC serves as an important factor in prognostication, judged by criteria involving the presence of mucins, nuclear polymorphism, the number of mitoses, and the comparison of the tubular structure and solid growth. In addition to conventional histology, immunohistochemistry can be used to diagnose PDAC and distinguish it from other primary tumors in the event of metastasis.
Alfa Cytology can greatly improve our customer's understanding of PC pathology. We provide exceptional quality specimen collection and processing, providing the foundation for productive cancer research, including,
- Sample processing
- Nucleic acid and protein extraction
- Electronic biospecimen tracking
Besides, we also offer an extensive range of pathology lab services, such as,
- Preparation of histology slides for microscopy
- Tissue microarray construction
- Immunohistochemistry
- Digital image acquisition and analysis
Thank you for your interest in our services. Let us know what you are trying to achieve and our team of experts will be in touch with you within one business day to discuss your needs. Contact us right now!
References
- McGuigan, A., Kelly, P., Turkington, R. C., Jones, C., Coleman, H. G., & McCain, R. S. (2018). Pancreatic cancer: A review of clinical diagnosis, epidemiology, treatment and outcomes. World journal of gastroenterology, 24(43), 4846.
- Ottenhof, N. A., de Wilde, R. F., Maitra, A., Hruban, R. H., & Offerhaus, G. J. A. (2011). Molecular characteristics of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma. Pathology research international, 2011.
- Haeberle, L., & Esposito, I. (2019). Pathology of pancreatic cancer. Translational gastroenterology and hepatology, 4.