FAT, E-cadherin, β catenin, HER 2/neu, Ki67 immunoexpression, and histological grade in intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma
- 1Hunter Area Pathology Service, Locked Bag 1, HRMC, Newcastle, Australia 2310
- 2Hunter Area Pathology Service, Newcastle, Australia
- 3Cancer Research Unit, University of Newcastle, Australia
- 4Hunter Area Pathology Service
- Correspondence to:
Professor A S-Y Leong
Hunter Area Pathology Service, Locked Bag 1, HRMC, Newcastle, Australia 2310; aleongmail.newcastle.edu.au
- Accepted 19 May 2005
Abstract
Aim: To identify surrogate prognostic markers in intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (IHCC).
Methods: Thirty one cases of IHCC were graded and immunostained for FAT, Ki67, E-cadherin, β catenin, and HER 2/neu.
Results: Twenty two cases were high grade and 27 had high Ki67 counts. Strong membranous staining of HER 2/neu was found in 10 tumours and reduced membranous E-cadherin and β catenin in 19 and 18 tumours, respectively. Nuclear localisation of β catenin was identified in five tumours and 22 showed weak cytoplasmic staining of FAT. Strong HER 2/neu and weak FAT immunoexpression were significantly correlated with high histological grade (p = 0.01) and high Ki67 index (p = 0.03). Upregulation of HER 2/neu was also significantly associated with nuclear localisation of β catenin (p = 0.01). Reduced membranous β catenin was significantly related to reduced membranous E-cadherin (p = 0.03), weak staining for FAT (p = 0.01), and nuclear translocation of β catenin (p = 0.04).
Conclusions: Reduced immunoexpression of E-cadherin and FAT at their normal membranous location may be potential prognostic markers, and the overexpression of HER 2/neu and β catenin nuclear translocation may have a role in cholangiocarcinogenesis.
