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Facing the enigma of the vascular network in hepatocellular carcinomas in cirrhotic and non-cirrhotic livers
- Source :
- Journal of clinical pathology. 69(2)
- Publication Year :
- 2015
-
Abstract
- Aims In this paper we aimed to analyse the typology and the phenotype of the different vascular modifications in human hepatocellular carcinomas (HCCs) with a new immunomorphological and gene expression approach. We also attempted to correlate these modifications with the histological parameters of tumour aggressiveness and the surrounding liver parenchyma. Methods Ninety-six HCCs (from 80 patients) were retrospectively enrolled, 46 occurring in non-cirrhotic livers, and 50 in livers transplanted for cirrhosis. Histopathological analysis, immunohistochemistry for CD34, Nestin and WT1 and RT-PCR for Nestin, transforming growth factor-β1 (TGFβ1) and insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF1R) mRNA were performed in all nodules. Results By correlating the CD34 and Nestin immunoreactivity in HCC vasculature with the tumorous architecture, we identified four vascular patterns (named from ‘a’ to ‘d’). Each of them was characterised by different expressions of TGFβ1 and IGF1R mRNA. Pattern a showed CD34-positive/Nestin-negative sinusoids, and was prevalent in microtrabecular lesions. Pattern b showed similar morphology and architecture as pattern a, but with Nestin-positive sinusoids and a significant ‘boost’ in IGF1R and TGFβ1 mRNAs. In patterns c and d a progressive sinusoid loss and a gain of newly formed arterioles were seen. Notably, HCCs with pattern a arose more frequently in cirrhosis (p=0.024), and showed lower incidence of microvascular invasion (p=0.002) and infiltration (p=0.005) compared with HCCs with other patterns. Conclusions Although future studies are surely required, the identification of different vascular profiles in HCCs from cirrhotic and non-cirrhotic livers may help clarify the relationship between HCC progression and aggressiveness.
- Subjects :
- 0301 basic medicine
Liver Cirrhosis
Male
Pathology
Cirrhosis
medicine.medical_treatment
Antigens, CD34
ANGIOGENESIS
Receptor, IGF Type 1
Nestin
0302 clinical medicine
LIVER CANCER
Aged, 80 and over
Neovascularization, Pathologic
Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction
Liver Neoplasms
General Medicine
HISTOPATHOLOGY
Middle Aged
Immunohistochemistry
PCR
Phenotype
030220 oncology & carcinogenesis
Disease Progression
Female
Liver cancer
Adult
medicine.medical_specialty
Carcinoma, Hepatocellular
Biology
Pathology and Forensic Medicine
Transforming Growth Factor beta1
03 medical and health sciences
Young Adult
Sinusoid
medicine
Biomarkers, Tumor
Hepatectomy
Humans
Genetic Predisposition to Disease
Neoplasm Invasiveness
WT1 Proteins
Aged
Retrospective Studies
Receptors, Somatomedin
HCCS
medicine.disease
digestive system diseases
030104 developmental biology
Histopathology
Subjects
Details
- ISSN :
- 14724146
- Volume :
- 69
- Issue :
- 2
- Database :
- OpenAIRE
- Journal :
- Journal of clinical pathology
- Accession number :
- edsair.doi.dedup.....a0fab28c3faab2c08ccd6e39615f0390