Expression of beta-catenin in hepatocellular carcinoma - PubMed (original) (raw)

Expression of beta-catenin in hepatocellular carcinoma

Liem Thanh Tien et al. World J Gastroenterol. 2005.

Abstract

Aim: The beta-catenin has been recognized as a critical member of the Wnt signaling pathway and plays an important role in the generation/differentiation of many tissues. Inappropriate activation of this pathway has been implicated in carcinogenesis. The mechanism underlying the development as well as its prognosis of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) has remained unclear. The purpose of this study is to analyze the expression of beta-catenin in HCC in relation to histological grades and viral hepatitis backgrounds.

Methods: Thirty-two sections were selected at random from autopsy and surgical cases of HCC. Immunohistologically, the location and positivity of beta-catenin expression in HCC was examined.

Results: Normal hepatocytes did not express beta-catenin. In 78% of HCC beta-catenin was expressed at the membrane of the cells, with or without cytoplasmic and/or nuclear expression. The tumor cells with well- and moderately-differentiated grades expressed frequently at the membrane and cytoplasm compared with poorly-differentiated type. Nuclear expression of beta-catenin was prone to occur in the tumor cells of poorly-differentiated grade. There were 15% of hepatitis C virus (HCV) backgrounds with nuclear expression. In contrast, there was 38% with nuclear expression in hepatitis B virus (HBV) backgrounds. In nonB-nonC hepatitis, no case expressed nuclear beta-catenin.

Conclusion: The beta-catenin expression in HCC cells was heterogeneous among types of hepatitis viral infection. Wnt signaling pathway might be deeply involved in less-differentiated HCC and HBV background.

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Figures

Figure 1

Figure 1

Constitutive expression of β-catenin in normal bile ducts. Membranous expression is conspicuous in normal bile ducts and newly formed bile ducts (arrow heads), but no expression is observed in normal hepatocytes.

Figure 2

Figure 2

Membranous expression. Membranous expression is conspicuous in tumor cell membranes. This case is moderately-differentiated HCC.

Figure 3

Figure 3

Nuclear expression. Nuclear expression is encountered in the poorly-differentiated HCC (arrows). Most cells co-expressed β-catenin in the cytoplasm.

Figure 4

Figure 4

Localization of β-catenin expression in cell level. M: membranous, M+C: membranous and cytoplasmic, M+N: membranous and nuclear, M+N+C: membranous, cytoplasmic, and nuclear, C: cytoplasmic.

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