Immunohistochemical study of hepatocyte, cholangiocyte and stem cell markers of hepatocellular carcinoma: the second report: relationship with tumor size and cell differentiation. (12th June 2016)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Kumagai, Arisa; Kondo, Fukuo; Sano, Keiji; Inoue, Masafumi; Fujii, Takeshi; Hashimoto, Masaji; Watanabe, Masato; Soejima, Yurie; Ishida, Tsuyoshi; Tokairin, Takuo; Saito, Koji; Sasajima, Yuko; Takahashi, Yoshihisa; Uozaki, Hiroshi; Fukusato, Toshio
• Is Part Of: Journal of hepato-biliary-pancreatic sciences. Volume 23:Number 7(2016)
• Page Start: 414
• Page End: 421
• Publication Date: 2016-06-12
• Subjects: Hepatocellular carcinoma -- Immunohistochemistry -- Progenitor cell -- Stem cell -- Transdifferentiation; Liver -- Diseases -- Periodicals; Biliary tract -- Diseases -- Periodicals; Pancreas -- Diseases -- Periodicals; 617.556
• DOI: 10.1002/jhbp.356
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1868-6974

Abstract

Abstract: Background: The purpose of this study is to investigate whether ordinary hepatocellular carcinomas (HCCs) show positivity of stem/progenitor cell markers and cholangiocyte markers during the process of tumor progression. Methods: Ninety‐four HCC lesions no larger than 8 cm from 94 patients were immuno‐histochemically studied using two hepatocyte markers (Hep par 1 and α‐fetoprotein), five cholangiocyte markers (cytokeratin CK7, CK19, Muc1, epithelial membrane antigen and carcinoembryonic antigen) and three hepatic stem/progenitor cell markers (CD56, c‐Kit and EpCAM). The tumors were classified into three groups by tumor size: S1, < 2.0 cm; S2, 2.0–5.0 cm; S3, 5.0–8.0 cm. The tumors were also classified according to tumor differentiation: well, moderately and poorly differentiated. The relationship between the positive ratios of these markers, tumor size and tumor differentiation was examined. Results: The positive ratios of cholangiocyte markers tended to be higher in larger sized and more poorly differentiated tumors (except for CK7). The positive ratios of stem/progenitor cell markers tended to be higher in larger sized and more poorly differentiated tumors (except for c‐Kit). Conclusion: Ordinary HCC can acquire the characteristic of positivity of cholangiocyte and stem/progenitor cell markers during the process of tumor progression. Abstract : Highlight Kumagai and colleagues showed that the positive ratios of cholangiocyte and stem/progenitor cell markers tended to be higher in larger sized and less differentiated hepatocellular carcinoma, indicating that ordinary hepatocellular carcinoma can acquire the characteristics of positivity of cholangiocyte and stem/progenitor cell markers during the process of tumor progression.