From the above 108 gallbladder adenocarcinoma samples, we obtained the peri-tumor tissues from 46 case (distance to adenocarcinomas ≥3 mm), 10 of which were normal by pathological analysis. Mild, moderate or severe Selleck EPZ015938 atypical proliferation was observed in 10, 12 and 14 cases, respectively. 15 specimens of gallbladder adenoma polyps were obtained from the Second Affiliated Hospital of Central South University (including 10 female and 5 male, average age 52 years old, range 42 to 60 years). The polyploidy adenomas ranged from 0.08 – 15 mm in size, 5 CBL0137 nmr out of the 15 had moderate to severe proliferation. In addition, 35 chronic cholecystitis specimens

were obtained (15 with chronic cholecystitis alone, 20 with chronic cholecystitis

and gallstones) as controls. Histologically, the 35 specimens included 11 with normal gallbladder mucosa, 12 with mild atypical proliferation, 7 with moderate atypical proliferation, and 5 with severe atypical proliferation. All the above samples were fixed in 4% formalin, and 4 micron sections were prepared for immunohistochemistry studies. Immunohistochemistry For p-ERK1/2 and PI3-K detection, immunostaining was carried out using EnVision™ (ChemMate™EnVison +/HRP/DAB, Rabbit/Mouse Two Step Staining Method) according to the manufacture’s protocol (DAKO laboratories Inc, California, USA). Briefly, paraffin-embedded gallbladder adenocarcinoma TH-302 tissues were cut into 4 μm thick sections. The sections were de-paraffinized and incubated with 3% of H2O2 solution for 15 min, followed by EDTA-trypsinase digestion (0.125%, pH 9.0) for 15 min, then soaked with PBS (pH7.4) 3 times, each for 5 minutes. The pre-treated sections were then incubated with rabbit anti-human p-ERK1/2 or PI3-K (Bosite Inc, Wuhan, China) for 60 min at room temperature. Solution A (ChemMate™EnVison +/HRP) was added and incubated for another 30 min. Substrate DAB liquid was added and followed by hematoxylin counter-staining. Slides only were dehydrated with different concentrations of alcohol and soaked in xylene for 5 minutes (3 times), and then mounted permanently with neutral balsam. Slides were examined independently by two pathologists.

The results of p-ERK1/2 or PI-3K immunostaining were considered to be positive when more than 25% of the tumor cells were stained. The positive controls were provided by Bosite Inc, Wuhan. Statistical analysis The SPSS13.0 program was used for calculation of interrelationships between the analyzed p-ERK1/2 or PI3-K and histological or clinical factors by χ2 independence test. Fisher’s exact probability test was also used for analyzing statistical association between the two independent sample groups. The results were considered to be significant when the P value were less than 0.05. Disease specific overall survival analyses were determined and compared using the Kaplan-Meier method and the log-rank test. For multivariate analysis the Cox regression method was performed.