Related Experiment Video For acinar cell carcinoma
Updated: Jul 2, 2026
Mimicking and Manipulating Pancreatic Acinar-to-Ductal Metaplasia in 3-dimensional Cell Culture
Published on: February 11, 2019
Cytomorphologic, immunophenotypical and molecular features of pancreatic acinar cell carcinoma
Tong Sun1, Syed Gilani1, Dhanpat Jain1
1Departments of Pathology, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut, USA.
Objectives:
As a rare tumor in pancreas, pancreatic acinar cell carcinoma (PACC) possesses a distinct molecular feature from pancreatic ductal carcinoma (PDAC). Though the diagnosis of PACC is often established based on cytology specimens, its cytologic diagnosis can be challenging. Furthermore, the correlation between PACC cytomorphology and its unique different molecular alterations have not been fully explored.
Methods:
Cytology features were analyzed in 8 histologically proven PACC and cytohistological correlation was performed. Immunocytochemistry for trypsin, chymotrypsin, BCL10, synaptophysin, chromogranin A, INSM1, β-catenin, and Ki-67 was assessed. Comprehensive molecular profiling and additional targetable treatment biomarker assessment were also performed.
Results:
The cohort included 4 mixed acinar-neuroendocrine carcinomas, 3 pure PACCs, and 1 mixed acinar-ductal carcinoma. Immunophenotypical features are consistent with diagnoses of PACC or PACC with neuroendocrine features. Identified genetic alterations included somatic mutations of CTNNB1, TP53, MAP2K1, PTEN, RAC1, germline mutations of NBN and BRAC2, and gene fusion of CCDC6-RET.
Conclusions:
The current study is the first attempt to explore the correlation between the cytomorphology characteristics and molecular features of PACC and a few intriguing findings were observed. Further validation in larger cohorts is warranted.
