Evidence map›Paper›PMID 42406030›Full record

ArticleVirchows Archiv : an international journal of pathology2026

Immunohistochemical profiling of ampullary carcinoma: Molecular subtypes, prognostic markers, and the role of Claudin-18.

Robert J Pein, Ildikó Illyés, István Kenessey, Adrián Pesti, Gábor Lotz, András Kiss, Katalin Borka

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Article in Virchows Archiv : an international journal of pathology, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

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Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

1 citing paper in PubMed.

  1. Article
4 · The record

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PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

7 authors.

Robert J PeinDepartment of Pathology, Forensic and Insurance Medicine, Semmelweis University, Budapest, Hungary.ORCID http://orcid.org/0009-0008-7492-590X
Ildikó IllyésDepartment of Pathology, Forensic and Insurance Medicine, Semmelweis University, Budapest, Hungary.
István KenesseyDepartment of Pathology, Forensic and Insurance Medicine, Semmelweis University, Budapest, Hungary.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-6963-8489
Adrián PestiDepartment of Pathology, Forensic and Insurance Medicine, Semmelweis University, Budapest, Hungary.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0001-6706-6221
Gábor LotzDepartment of Pathology, Forensic and Insurance Medicine, Semmelweis University, Budapest, Hungary.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-6921-8978
András KissDepartment of Pathology, Forensic and Insurance Medicine, Semmelweis University, Budapest, Hungary.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-7453-3163
Katalin BorkaDepartment of Pathology, Forensic and Insurance Medicine, Semmelweis University, Budapest, Hungary. borka.katalin@semmelweis.hu.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Ampullary cancer is a rare malignancy, histologically divided into intestinal and pancreatobiliary subtypes based on histomorphological and immunophenotypic features as they arise from different epithelial origins and exhibit distinct biological behavior, treatment responses, and clinical outcomes. However, current histomorphological and immunohistochemical classification often remains ambiguous, complicating accurate subtype assignment to guide therapeutic approaches. In this retrospective study of 125 ampullary carcinoma cases, we performed immunohistochemical profiling using a panel of markers including CDX2, CK20, mucins (MUC1, MUC2, MUC5AC), and claudins (CLDN1-4, CLDN7, CLDN18) to refine subtype classification and identify prognostic biomarkers. Hierarchical clustering based on marker expression H-scores revealed two molecular subtypes corresponding to intestinal and pancreatobiliary differentiation. While CDX2 and CK20 are routinely used in combination for diagnosis, other markers, particularly CLDN3, CLDN7, and MUC5AC, demonstrated superior diagnostic and prognostic performance to CDX2. CK20, by contrast, remained a robust marker of intestinal differentiation and favorable outcome. Pancreatobiliary-type tumors exhibited elevated MUC1, MUC5AC, and CLDN18 expression, and were associated with advanced stage, invasive features, and significantly worse survival. Multivariate analysis showed high MUC5AC and apical MUC1 expression to be associated with adverse outcomes, whereas CLDN1, CLDN3 and CLDN4 expression were linked to improved survival. Membranous CLDN18 expression was more common in pancreatobiliary-type ampullary cancer, making it a potential therapeutic target. These findings underscore the diagnostic and prognostic value of multiplex immunohistochemical profiling. We propose retaining CK20 but replacing CDX2 with a more informative marker, namely CLDN3, to enhance classification and therapeutic stratification.

Indexed as

ClassificationCLDN18IntestinalPancreatobiliarySmall bowelSubtypes

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.