Spalt-like transcription factor 4 immunopositivity is associated with epithelial cell adhesion molecule expression in combined hepatocellular carcinoma and cholangiocarcinoma.
Histopathology
; 68(5): 693-701, 2016 Apr.
Article
em En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-26267070
ABSTRACT
AIM:
Combined hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and cholangiocarcinoma (CC) (cHCC-CC) is a rare biphasic liver cancer. Recent studies have demonstrated that cHCC-CC originates from hepatic progenitor cells (HPCs). Spalt-like transcription factor 4 (SALL4) is a marker for a progenitor subclass of HCC with an aggressive phenotype. However, little has been revealed about SALL4 expression in cHCC-CC. The aims of this study were to report SALL4 immunopositivity and the results of clinicopathological analysis in cHCC-CC, and to examine the two different nuclear immunostaining patterns for SALL4. METHODS ANDRESULTS:
We defined the diffuse finely granular nuclear immunostaining pattern as immunopositive for SALL4; this was observed in eight (8.9%) of 90 cHCC-CCs. SALL4 immunopositivity was significantly associated with immunopositivity for α-fetoprotein, glypican 3, and epithelial cell adhesion molecule (EpCAM). There was no relationship between SALL4 immunopositivity and prognosis. We confirmed SALL4 mRNA expression in samples with a punctuate/clumped immunostaining pattern, which showed a significantly lower rate of immunopositivity for EpCAM than those with a diffuse finely granular pattern.CONCLUSIONS:
SALL4 immunopositivity is not a prognostic factor in cHCC-CC; however, it is associated with α-fetoprotein, glypican 3 and EpCAM immunopositivity, indicating the mechanism of carcinogenesis. Further study is necessary to interpret the immunostaining pattern for SALL4.Palavras-chave
Texto completo:
1
Coleções:
01-internacional
Base de dados:
MEDLINE
Assunto principal:
Neoplasias dos Ductos Biliares
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Colangiocarcinoma
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Carcinoma Hepatocelular
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Fator de Transcrição 4
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Neoplasias Hepáticas
Tipo de estudo:
Prognostic_studies
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Risk_factors_studies
Limite:
Aged
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Female
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Humans
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Male
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Middle aged
Idioma:
En
Ano de publicação:
2016
Tipo de documento:
Article