Cytokeratin19 positive hepatocellular carcinoma is associated with increased peritumoral ductular reaction

Abstract

Background and aims. Cytokeratin19 positive (CK19+) hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is thought to derive from liver progenitor cells (LPC). However, whether peritumoralductular reaction (DR) differs between CK19+ and CK19 negative (CK19−) HCC patients remains unclear.Material and methods. One hundred and twenty HBV-related HCC patients were enrolled in this study. Clini-copathological variables were collected, and immunohistochemistry staining for CK19, proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA), inter-leukin-6 (IL-6) and β-catenin were performed in tumor and peritumor liver tissues.Results. CK19+ HCC patients had higher grade of peritumoral DR and proportion of proliferative DR than the CK19- group. The mean number or the proportion of cytoplasmic β-catenin+ DR was higher in the CK19+ group than in the CK19− group. Furthermore, there were more patients with nuclear β-catenin+ peritumoral DR in the CK19+ group as compared to the CK19- group.Conclusion. Peritumoral DR was more abundant and proliferative in CK19+ HCC patients, with higher level of nuclear translocation of β-catenin. However, it is unclear whether peritumoral DR is the cause or result of poor prognosis in these patients.

Keywords

• Liver cancer
• Liver progenitor cells
• β-catenin