Beta-catenin mutations are associated with a subset of low-stage hepatocellular carcinoma negative for hepatitis B virus and with favorable prognosis

To better understand the role of beta-catenin mutation in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), we correlated the gene mutation with hepatitis virus B (HBV) and hepatitis virus C (HCV) status and the clinicopathological features in 366 patients with resected primary unifocal HCC. beta-Catenin mutations were also analyzed in 55 patients with multifocal HCC (68 tumors). Of the whole series, 57 (13.1%) of 434 tumors examined had beta-catenin mutations, 34 occurred at the serine/threonine residues of the GSK-3beta region of beta-catenin. Outside the GSK-3beta phosphorylation site, codons 32 and 34 were two mutational hot spots (17 tumors). The non-HBV-related HCC that was predominantly HCV related had a higher frequency of mutation (P: < 0.00001) and more frequent mutations at codon 45 than HBV-related HCC. HBV-related HCC had a younger mean age (P: < 0.00001), and higher male-to-female ratio (P: < 0.003) and positive familial history of HCC (P: < 0.014). Among 366 unifocal HCCs selected for clinicopathological analysis, beta-catenin mutations were associated with grade I (P: = 0.005) and stage I and II HCC (P: < 0.0001), and a better 5-year survival rate (P: = 0. 00003). These findings suggest mechanisms for beta-catenin mutations differ between HBV-related and non-HBV-related HCCs, and that beta-catenin mutation is a favorable prognostic factor related to low stage. beta-Catenin mutation was associated with nuclear expression of the protein (P: < 0.00001), but we failed to detect point or large fragment deletion mutation in 39 HCCs with nuclear beta-catenin expression, presumably wild-type protein. HCCs expressing mutant nuclear beta-catenin had a better 5-year survival rate (P: < 0.007), suggesting that mutant and wild-type nuclear beta-catenin proteins are not functionally equivalent and deserve more studies for further clarification.     

Stathmin overexpression cooperates with p53 mutation and osteopontin overexpression, and is associated with tumour progression, early recurrence, and poor prognosis in hepatocellular carcinoma

Stathmin, a major microtubule-depolymerizing protein, is involved in cell cycle progression and cell motility. This study aimed to elucidate its role in the progression, early tumour recurrence (ETR), and prognosis of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Stathmin mRNA was overexpressed in 88/156 (56%) resected, unifocal, primary HCCs, while p53 mutation was present in 72 (46%) and osteopontin mRNA overexpression in 79 (51%). Stathmin mRNA expression exhibited high concordance (93%) with protein expression in 107 cases examined by immunohistochemistry. Stathmin overexpression correlated with high alpha-fetoprotein (>200 ng/ml, p = 0.02), larger tumour size (>5 cm, p = 0.012), high tumour grade (p < 0.0002), high tumour stage (stage IIIA-IV) with vascular invasion and various degrees of intrahepatic metastasis (p < 1 x 10(-8)), ETR (p = 0.003), and lower 5-year survival (p = 0.0007). Stathmin protein expression was often more intense in the peripheral regions of tumour trabeculae, tumour borders, and portal vein tumour thrombi. Stathmin overexpression correlated with p53 mutation (p = 0.017) and osteopontin overexpression (p = 1 x 10(-8)), both of which were associated with vascular invasion (both p < 0.0001) and poorer prognosis (p < 0.0004 and p = 0.0004, respectively). Regardless of the status of p53 mutation or osteopontin expression, stathmin overexpression was associated with higher vascular invasion (all p < 0.0001). Approximately 90% of HCCs harbouring stathmin overexpression with concomitant p53 mutation or osteopontin overexpression exhibited vascular invasion, and hence the lowest 5-year survival, p = 0.00018 and p = 0.0009, respectively. However, we did not find that stathmin overexpression exerted prognostic impact independent of tumour stage. In conclusion, stathmin expression correlates with metastatic potential, is an important prognostic factor for HCC, and may serve as a useful marker to predict ETR.     

Co-expression patterns of Notch1, Snail,and p53 in grade III hepatocellular carcinoma with postoperative recurrence: a preliminary study

Background/Aims

We aimed to determine the association between the co-expression patterns of Notch1, Snail, and p53 proteins (NSP) and the postoperative prognosis of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).

Methods

The immunoblot data for molecular expression (147 HCC/corresponding non-HCC tissues and 15 dysplastic nodules) and the sequencing data for p53 mutations (110 HCCs) were obtained from our previous study. Data analyses were restricted to cases with HCC differentiation grade III (n=47), due to its high p53 mutation rate.

Results

Nineteen of the 47 patients (40.4%) -comprising 12 in the liver and 7 in distant organs-had relapsed at 1-2 years after surgery. There was no relationship between p53 mutation and postoperative recurrence in the grade III HCCs. Seven (87.5%) of the eight relapsed cases with Notch1, Snail, and p53 (wild) co-expression experienced recurrence only within the liver, and all tumors were smaller than 5 cm in diameter. Extrahepatic relapse occurred mostly in HCC patients with tumors larger than 5 cm in diameter, without any deviation in the NSP pattern.

Conclusions

The results of this preliminary study suggest that the co-expression of Notch1, Snail, and p53 (wild) is not inferior to the patterns with p53 mutation as an indicator of postoperative recurrence of grade III HCC.     

Expression of mutant nuclear beta-catenin correlates with non-invasive hepatocellular carcinoma, absence of portal vein spread, and good prognosis

beta-catenin has functions both in the cadherin-mediated cell adhesion system and in the signalling pathway that mediates dorsal axis patterning in the embryo; it has been shown to be aberrantly expressed or mutated in diverse types of human tumour, but the biological significance of this remains to be clarified. To elucidate the clinical implications of aberrant beta-catenin expression and the potential differences between mutant and wild-type beta-catenin protein expression in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), the protein expression was analysed by immunohistochemical staining, supplemented by the analysis of gene mutation. Among 372 unifocal primary HCCs, beta-catenin was detected in the tumour cell membrane alone in 272 tumours (group A) and also in the nuclei in 100 (group B). In group A, 148 tumours had decreased beta-catenin expression, but the reduction did not correlate with invasion or prognosis. When compared with group A, however, group B had significantly lower frequencies of hepatitis B surface antigen carrier (p=0.015), and alpha-fetoprotein elevation (p=0.0003), but more often had non-invasive HCC (p<0.001) and better survival (p=0.01). Nuclear beta-catenin expression strongly correlated with mutation of the gene (p<0.00001). In group B, HCC with mutant nuclear beta-catenin correlated positively with non-invasive (stage 1) tumour and inversely with portal vein tumour thrombi (stage 3 HCC), and had significantly better 5-year survival, p<0.001 and p<0.0003, respectively. These results suggest that beta-catenin mutation plays an important role in the tumourigenesis of a subset of HCC of good prognosis, and that mutant and wild-type nuclear beta-catenin proteins are not functionally equivalent.     

RB tumor suppressor gene expression in hepatocellular carcinomas from patients infected with the hepatitis B virus

Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection is closely associated with the development of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), but definite mechanisms by which it could play an etiologic role have not yet been identified. Modifications of the function of the RB tumor suppressor gene, which regulates the cell cycle, could provide such a mechanism. In the present study, the expression of the protein product of RB, pRB, was evaluated by immunohistochemical staining in HCC tissues from 25 patients from China and the United States, adjacent nontumorous liver from 19 of those patients, five human HCC cell lines, three human hepatoblastoma cell lines, and five specimens of normal human liver. Representative samples were also evaluated by western blot. Altered expression of RB was detected in eight HCC tissues (pRB undetectable in five HCCs and detected in <1% of nuclei of HCC cells in three others); all eight had detectable hepatitis B surface or core antigen in the adjacent nontumorous liver, indicating active HBV infection. pRB was detected in 10--95% of nuclei (normal expression) in the remaining 17 HCCs, and in many nuclei in all 19 nontumorous livers, and in the 5 normal livers. No pRB staining was detected in the nuclei of three HCC cell lines, but pRB was detected in > 90% of nuclei of the other HCC and hepatoblastoma cell lines. The relationship of pRB expression to mutations of the p53 tumor suppressor gene was also examined. The absence of detectable nuclear pRB by immunohistochemical staining was associated with the presence of presumed mutant p53 detected by immunohistochemical staining in four out of five HCC cases. In addition, all three HCC cell lines lacking detectable pRB also had a p53 mutation or a p53 deletion. HCCs with altered pRB expression included more grade III and IV tumors (8/8,100%) than did HCCs with normal pRB expression (7/17, 41%) (P < 0.02), suggesting that abnormal pRB expression may be associated with more advanced histologic grades of HCC. These data indicate that interference with the normal function of the tumor suppressor gene RB or its product pRB, often with concomitant p53 mutation, may be one of several mechanisms that contribute to the development or progression of HCC in humans infected with HBV. © 1994Wiley-Liss, Inc.     

The clinicopathological and prognostic relevance of cytokeratin 7 and 19 expression in hepatocellular carcinoma. A possible progenitor cell origin

AIMS: Cytokeratin (CK) 7 and CK19 expression, present in hepatic progenitor cells (HPCs) and in cholangiocytes but not in normal hepatocytes, has been reported in some hepatocellular carcinomas (HCCs); however, the incidence and relevance of this expression in HCC in Caucasians is not known. Therefore, our aim was to study the occurrence and clinicopathological characteristics of HCC expressing CK7 and/or CK19 in 109 Caucasian patients. METHODS AND RESULTS: The expression of hepatocellular differentiation markers (Hepar, canalicular polyclonal carcinoembryonic antigen), biliary/progenitor cell markers (CK7, CK19), alpha-fetoprotein (AFP), p53 and beta-catenin in HCC was semiquantitatively assessed by immunohistochemistry. Of 109 HCCs, 78 were CK7-/CK19- (72%), 13 CK7+/CK19- (12%), seven CK7-/CK19+ (6%), 11 CK7+/CK19+ (10%). CK19 expression was significantly associated with elevated serum AFP (400 ng/ml) (P = 0.023), tumour AFP expression (P < 0.0001), presence in serum of anti-hepatitis B core (P = 0.016), less fibrosis in non-neoplastic parenchyma (P = 0.009) and less nuclear beta-catenin expression (P = 0.021). CK7 expression was significantly associated with elevated serum bilirubin (> 2 mg/dl) (P = 0.0005) and less nuclear beta-catenin expression (P = 0.003). HCC expressing CK19 had a higher rate of recurrence (P = 0.009, hazard ratio 12.5, n = 31) after liver transplantation compared with CK19- tumours. CONCLUSIONS: In our series, 28% of HCCs contained cells expressing CK7 and/or CK19. They potentially derive from HPCs. The higher recurrence rate of CK19+ HCC after transplantation suggests a worse prognosis for these HCCs compared with CK19- HCC.     

Correlation of mutation and immunohistochemistry of p53 in hepatocellular carcinomas in Korean people

The degree of correlation between sequencing and immunohistochemisty (IHC) for detecting mutations of p53 has not been well established in human hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). We analyzed 36 HCCs from Korean people for p53 mutation at exons 4-10 by PCR-SSCP and sequencing, and compared the results with the IHC positivity. p53 mutations were identified in 7 out of 36 HCCs (19.4%). These mutations were found widely throughout exons 4-8. No mutation was detected in codon 249. Among the 7 mutations, 6 missense mutations were detected in 15 HCCs with > or =5% immunoreactive tumor cells and one nonsense mutation was in 21 HCCs with <5% immunoreactive tumor cells. The sensitivity for p53 mutation was 85.7% (6/7), the specificity 69.0% (20/29), the predictive value of positive IHC 40.0% (6/15), and the predictive value of negative IHC 95.2% (20/21). Two missense mutations were detected in 25 cases with <10% immunoreactive tumor cells. Predictive values of both positive IHC and negative IHC were higher in > or =5% overexpression group than in > or =10% overexpression group or >0% overexpression group. This study suggests that 5% immunoreactivity is a reliable immunohistochemical threshold value to detect p53 mutations in HCCs and the spectrum of p53 mutations in HCCs in Korean people is different from that of high aflatoxin B1 exposure areas.     

Hepatocyte expressions in hepatocellular carcinomas, gastrointestinal neoplasms, and non-neoplastic gastrointestinal mucosa: its role as a diagnostic marker

We performed immunohistochemical staining against Hepatocyte (Hep) and CD10 antibodies in 75 hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), 50 cholangiocarcinomas, 49 colorectal adenocarcinomas, and 308 gastric adenocarcinomas by tissue array method. We also evaluated the various non-neoplastic adult tissues and fetal digestive organs. Hep was expressed in 80% of HCCs, and HCCs without Hep expression were more likely to have a higher Edmondson & Steiner grade than HCCs with Hep expression (p=0.004). In non-HCCs, 16% of cholangiocarcinomas, 8.2% of colorectal carcinomas, and 44.2% of gastric carcinomas expressed Hep. Gastric carcinomas with Hep expression were significantly associated with early gastric carcinomas (p<0.001). In non-neoplastic tissues, Hep was found expressed in normal hepatocytes, small intestinal mucosa, and intestinal metaplasia of the stomach. Fetal hepatocytes expressed Hep after 19 weeks of gestation. CD10 was detected in 46.7% (35/75) of HCCs, and canalicular staining pattern was predominant in HCCs. In conclusion, the expression of Hep and CD10 may help to distinguish HCCs from non-HCCs.     

原发性肝癌p53基因高频缺失的双色荧光原位杂交证据

目的:探讨原发性肝癌(HCC)中p53基因的缺失频率、方式、特点及其临床意义。方法: 以p53基因及17号染色体着丝粒DNA为探针, 应用间期双色荧光原位杂交(interphasedual, FISH)技术。结果:肝癌中p53基因的缺失频率为68.0%(68/100), 而配对正常肝组织中则未见有p53缺失;p53缺失方式多样且往往伴随17号染色体多倍体(r=0.594, P＜0.01);p53缺失与肝癌病人的性别、年龄、HBV感染及临床分期无显著相关(P＞0.05), 但与血清甲胎蛋白(AFP)水平、肿瘤大小则显著相关(P＜0.05);有无p53缺失病人之间2年存活率差异非常显著(χ²=11.463, P＜0.01)。结论:p53基因在原发性肝癌中存在高频缺失并往往伴随17号染色体的多倍体;双色FISH技术为评估基因的缺失提供了特异、敏感、直观的分子细胞遗传学证据。     

肝细胞肝癌中端粒酶、p53和CK19的表达及意义

目的探讨端粒酶、p53和CK19在肝细胞肝癌(hepatocellular carcinoma,HCC)组织中的表达及其临床病理意义。方法应用组织芯片技术和免疫组化SP法检测272例HCC及81例癌旁组织中端粒酶、p53和CK19的表达情况,并分析其与临床病理特征及预后的关系。结果 (1)272例HCC中端粒酶、p53和CK19的阳性率分别为56.62%(154/272)、12.90%(35/272)和14.30%(39/272),均高于癌旁组织的9.88%(8/81)、0(0/81)和0(0/81),差异均有显著性(P<0.01)。(2)端粒酶在HCC中的表达与术后无瘤生存时间、组织学分级、肿瘤直径、卫星灶、脉管癌栓及临床分期有关(P<0.05),与其他指标无关(P均>0.05);p53在HCC中的表达与术后无瘤生存时间、组织学分级、肝被膜浸润、血中AFP含量及淋巴结转移有关(P<0.05),与其他指标无关(P均>0.05);CK19在HCC中的表达与术后无瘤生存时间、组织学分级、肿瘤直径、肝硬化、卫星灶、淋巴结转移及临床分期有关(P<0.05),与其他指标无关(P>0.05)。(3)三者在HCC中的表达互呈正相关(端粒酶与p53:r=0.137,P=0.024;端粒酶与CK19:r=0.497,P=0.001;p53与CK19:r=0.274,P=0.005)。(4)Kaplan-Meier生存分析结果显示:HCC组织中端粒酶、p53和CK19阳性的患者生存时间缩短。结论 HCC中端粒酶、p53和CK19的阳性表达与多种临床病理指标相关,三者均可作为HCC患者预后不良的判断因子。     

Cell biological evaluation of liver cell carcinoma, dysplasia and adenoma by tissue micro-array analysis

The clinical and morphological definition of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), dysplasia and adenoma suffers from a lack of biological understanding. This is especially important in the histomorphological diagnosis of nodular liver lesions in needle biopsies. Therefore, we constructed a liver tissue micro-array (TMA) and evaluated 48 HCCs, 46 dysplasias, 8 adenomas, 20 cirrhotic specimens and 28 normal liver samples derived from 68 patients. Protein (over)expression by tumor suppressor genes p16, p53 and Rb1 was assessed by immunohistochemistry, the proliferative capacity was examined by immunostaining of Ki67. Further, DNA ploidy status (hyperdiploidy) was measured by fluorescent in situ hybridization (FISH) with a chromosome 1-specific repetitive DNA probe. An abnormal chromosome 1 number, i.e. the percentage of hyperdiploid cells, was 11.0, 13.7, 16.1, 23.7 and 31.3 for normal liver samples, adenomas, cirrhosis, dysplasias and HCCs, respectively. A significant difference was found for HCC versus cirrhosis (P = 0.024) or adenoma (P = 0.033), a trend (borderline significance) was seen for dysplasia versus cirrhosis (P = 0.094). Immunohistochemical protein localisation of p53 and Rb1, as well as Ki67 indicating proliferation, was clearly higher in HCC than in cirrhosis or dysplasia (all P < 0.001). Proliferation was also higher in HCC than in adenoma (P = 0.025), whereas a trend (borderline significance) was observed for Rb1 overexpression (P = 0.063). These data suggest that in the liver cell dysplasia-carcinoma pathway, changes in ploidy are followed by increased proliferation and cell biological perturbations involving p53 and Rb1. Adenomas can be distinguished from carcinomas, but not from dysplasias, based on ploidy and proliferation characteristics.     

p53 immunoreactivity in hepatocellular adenoma, focal nodular hyperplasia, cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma

The prolonged half-life of mutant p53 makes feasible its immunocytochemical detection. In order to assess the pathogenetic role of mutant p53 in regenerative and neoplastc liver disease we studied its immunohistochemical expression in cases of hepatic cirrhosis, hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), cirrhosis with areas of HCC, hepatocellular adenoma and focal nodular hyperplasia. The study included needle and wedge biopsies of 50 cirrhotic livers, 59 HCCs (36 of them with associated cirrhosis), six adenomas and two focal nodular hyperplasias. Sixty-five HCC fineneedle cytology specimens were also included in the study. There was no immunohistochemical evidence of mutant p53 expression in any of the cases of cirrhotic liver (except for one instance associated with HCC) adenoma or focal nodular hyperplasia. In contrast p53 was detected in 8.5% of HCC cases in the biopsy series and 24% of HCC cases in the fine needle aspiration series. In addition, mutant p53 expression in HCC was positively correlated with tumour grade. According to grade, the distribution of p53 positive immunoreactivity among HCCs was as follows: Grade I-II, 0% of cases in the biopsy series and 9% in the fine needle aspirates; Grade III, 18% in the biopsy series and 55% in the fine needle aspirates; and Grade IV, 40% in the biopsy series. Therefore, mutant p53 expression does not seem to be associated with benign liver lesions but seems to correlate with the progression of HCC through various grades of increasing malignancy.     

Primary liver carcinoma arising in people younger than 30 years

Primary liver carcinomas in children and young adults are uncommon and poorly described. We examined primary liver carcinomas in people younger than 30 years and performed immunostains for markers of biliary (cytokeratin [CK] 7, CK19, CD56) and hepatocellular (HepPar) differentiation. We found 23 primary liver carcinomas were found: 13 hepatocellular carcinomas (HCCs), 9 fibrolamellar carcinomas (FLCs), and 1 cholangiocarcinoma. Most HCCs showed compact (n = 7) or trabecular (n = 4) growth patterns. The Edmondson grades were as follows: 1, 3 tumors; 2, 8 tumors; and 3, 2 tumors). All HCCs and FLCs were HepPar(+). All FLCs and 7 of 9 HCCs were CK7(+). In contrast, a control group of 65 adult HCCs showed less CK7 positivity (24 [37%]; P = .03). CK19 was positive in 2 HCCs and CD56 in 1 HCC. No chronic background liver disease was seen, although 3 cases showed foci of altered hepatocytes. HCCs are the most common primary liver carcinoma in children and young adults followed by FLCs. They are morphologically similar to adult HCC, but more likely to be CK7(+).     

Annexin A1 down-regulation in head and neck cancer is associated with epithelial differentiation status

Annexin A1 (ANXA1) protein expression was evaluated by Western blot in a series of 32 head and neck squamous cell carcinomas (HNSCCs) in a search for molecular alterations that could serve as useful diagnostic/prognostic markers. ANXA1 down-regulation was observed in 24 cases (75%) compared with patient-matched normal epithelium. In relation to clinicopathological variables, ANXA1 down-regulation was significantly associated with advanced T stages (P = 0.029), locoregional lymph node metastases (P = 0.038), advanced disease stage (P = 0.006), hypopharyngeal localization (P = 0.038), and poor histological differentiation (P = 0.005). ANXA1 expression was also analyzed by immunohistochemistry in paraffin-embedded sections from 22 of 32 HNSCCs and 8 premalignant lesions. All dysplastic tissues showed significantly reduced ANXA1 expression compared to a strong positive signal observed in adjacent normal epithelia (except basal and suprabasal cells). A close association was observed between ANXA1 expression and the histological grade in HNSCC. Well-differentiated tumors presented a positive ANXA1 signal in highly keratinized areas whereas moderately and poorly differentiated tumors exhibited very weak or negative staining. Our findings clearly identify ANXA1 as an effective differentiation marker for the histopathological grading of HNSCCs and for the detection of epithelial dysplasia.     

着丝粒蛋白A在原发性肝癌中的表达

目的研究乙肝病毒X蛋白（HBx）上调的基因着丝粒蛋白A（centromere protein A,CENP-A）在原发性肝细胞癌（HCC）及癌旁组织的表达差异,并初步探讨其意义。方法应用RT-PCR和即时定量PCR（real-time quantitative PCR）方法,检测20例HCC及配对癌旁肝组织中CENP-A基因mRNA的表达水平,应用免疫组织化学方法检测80例HCC和癌旁肝组织中CENP-A蛋白、p53蛋白的表达情况。结果CENP-A mRNA在癌及癌旁组织中的相对表达水平分别为（0．64±0．18）和（0．09±0．09）,二者差异有统计学意义（t=12．78,P〈0．01）。免疫组织化学结果显示：CENP-A在HCC组织中的总阳性率为71．25％（57／80）,高于配对癌旁组织的总阳性率43．75％（35／80）（x^2=12．38,P〈0．01）。p53在癌组织中的总阳性率为75％（60／80）,高于配对癌旁组织中的总阳性率16．25％（13／80）（x^2=55．65,P〈0．01）,p53与CENP-A在癌组织中的表达一致性达88．75％（71／80）,呈正相关（r=0．57,P〈0．01）。结论CENP-A在肝癌组织中的过表达与细胞恶性增殖相关,且这种过表达是由转录水平引起的,其机制可能与p53基因的转录调节有关。     

Classification of hepatocellular carcinoma according to hepatocellular and biliary differentiation markers. Clinical and biological implications.

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a heterogeneous disease. HCC derived from different stages of cellular differentiation may have different clinical and pathobiological behavior. To test the hypothesis that HCC can be classified into two types based on its phenotypic markers (hepatocellular and biliary differentiation), liver tissues from 290 Chinese patients with HCC were studied. Expression of hepatocytic differentiation marker (HEP-PAR-reactive antigen), biliary differentiation markers (AE1-AE3, cytokeratin-19), proliferation markers (Ki-67, proliferating cell nuclear antigen), alpha-fetoprotein, p53, and transforming growth factor-alpha in the tumor tissue were assessed by immunohistochemistry. Hepatocytic differentiation marker was detected in 99.7% and biliary differentiation markers were detected in 29.3% of these tumors. Clinically, no patient with HCC with biliary markers survived for more than 27 weeks compared with a 22.6% survival rate in patients with HCC negative for biliary markers. HCCs positive for the biliary differentiation markers showed features of more aggressive disease in terms of poorer cellular differentiation (P < 0.001) and high-level expression of proliferation markers (Ki-67, P < 0.001; proliferating cell nuclear antigen, P = 0.0114) compared with HCCs without biliary markers. HCCs with biliary markers also had a higher level of expression of alpha-fetoprotein (P < 0.001) and p53 (P = 0.0077). Classification of HCCs based on its phenotypic (differentiation) markers has both clinical and pathobiological implications.     

p53 expression in hepatocellular carcinoma in a population in Singapore with endemic hepatitis B virus infection.

AIMS--To study the expression and clinical significance (if any) of p53 protein in hepatocellular carcinomas (HCC) arising in a population with endemic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection. METHODS--Immunohistochemical staining was performed on formalin fixed, paraffin was embedded histological sections of 46 HCC cases using an antihuman p53 monoclonal antibody; serial sections were also stained for hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg), hepatitis B core antigen (HBcAg) and alpha fetoprotein (AFP). Nuclear p53 staining was assessed according to intensity (absent, weak or strong) and extent (< 5%, 6-25%, 26-50%, and > 50%) of positive cells. Tissue HBsAg, HBcAg and AFP were recorded as absent or present. RESULTS--The p53 protein was expressed in 35% (16 of 46) of HCCs; the positive rate in grade III/IV tumours (13 of 31; 42%) was higher than in grade I/II tumours (three of 15; 20%) but this was not statistically significant. HBsAg positive tumours showed almost the same proportion of p53 staining (11 of 29; 38%) as HBsAg negative ones (five of 17; 29%). CONCLUSIONS--The p53 protein was expressed in 35% of HCC cases. There was no statistically significant correlation between HBV infection and p53 protein expression. Similarly, there was no definite correlation between p53 positivity and tumour size, histological grade or vascular invasion.     

Insulin-like growth factor II mRNA-binding protein 3 (IMP3) expression in hepatocellular carcinoma. A clinicopathological analysis with emphasis on diagnostic value

Wachter D L, Kristiansen G, Soll C, Hellerbrand C, Breuhahn K, Fritzsche F, Agaimy A, Hartmann A & Riener M‐O
(2012) Histopathology  60, 278–286
Insulin‐like growth factor II mRNA‐binding protein 3 (IMP3) expression in hepatocellular carcinoma. A clinicopathological analysis with emphasis on diagnostic value Aims: Patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) usually present with advanced disease and rarely qualify for curative therapy. Immunohistochemical markers that help to discriminate benign from malignant processes early, and that have prognostic significance, would be useful. Expression of the oncofetal protein insulin‐like growth factor II mRNA‐binding protein 3 (IMP3) in malignant cells of different tumour types correlates with reduced overall survival. Methods and results: Tissue microarrays (TMAs) containing 55 normal liver samples, 365 HCCs (122 with corresponding non‐tumorous liver), 10 hepatocellular adenomas, 13 focal nodular hyperplasias and nine dysplastic nodules from western European patients were stained for IMP3. IMP3 was analysed in 61 core needle biopsies and findings were compared to glypican‐3 and CD34. HCCs in TMAs were strongly positive for IMP3 in 18.4% of cases compared to absent expression in normal and non‐tumorous liver tissue and benign liver tumours. Patients with IMP3 expression in HCCs showed significantly poorer overall survival in multivariate analysis (P = 0.044). Of the 61 core needle biopsies analysed, 32 (52.5%) of the HCCs were IMP3‐positive. Conclusions: In core needle biopsies, IMP3 expression seems to be of limited use as a single marker for the diagnosis of HCC, given a sensitivity of 52%, but it may be helpful in combination with other markers.