Biological markers in hepatocellular carcinoma: potential clinical implications.
The assessment of biological markers as potential indicators of disease aggressiveness is still an open problem in hepatocellular carcinoma. Cell proliferation and extracellular matrix (ECM)-associated antigens and tumor-cell products can be associated with clinical aggressiveness in this tumor type, as has already been demonstrated for others. Cell proliferation, expressed as the in vitro [3H]thymidine labeling index, and ECM-associated antigens, such as type IV collagenase and laminin receptors, were assessed on the same paraffin-embedded samples. A strong association (P = 0.0001) was observed between the expression of collagenase and laminin receptors, with a correlation coefficient (rs) of 0.68. No relationship was found between cell proliferation and ECM-associated antigens. Moreover, the biological markers were generally independent of clinicopathologic features, except for a higher number of collagenase- and laminin receptor-positive cells in large (> or = 5 cm) compared with small (< 5 cm) tumors. In the present series of hepatocellular carcinoma patients, the 3-year clinical outcome was significantly affected by cell proliferation and ECM-associated antigens.
Department of Experimental Oncology, Istituto Nazionale per lo Studio e la Cura dei Tumori, Milan, Italy.
R
R
Silvestrini
A
A
Costa
A
A
D'Errico
A
A
Faranda
E
E
Regalia
W
W
Grigioni
L
L
Gennari
D000951:Antigens, Neoplasm / Q000032:analysis; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000032:analysis*; D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology; D002453:Cell Cycle; D002455:Cell Division; D017364:Collagenases / Q000032:analysis; D005109:Extracellular Matrix / Q000276:immunology; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008103:Liver Cirrhosis / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology; D020780:Matrix Metalloproteinase 9; D011379:Prognosis; D017474:Receptors, Laminin / Q000032:analysis; D015996:Survival Rate; D013936:Thymidine / Q000378:metabolism; D014316:Tritium
D000951:Antigens, Neoplasm; D015415:Biomarkers; D017474:Receptors, Laminin; D014316:Tritium; D017364:Collagenases; D020780:Matrix Metalloproteinase 9; D013936:Thymidine