Apoptosis and cytologic differentiation in hepatocellular carcinoma on fine needle aspiration samples.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate possible alterations of the mechanisms leading to apoptosis in hepatocellular carcinoma by studying bcl-2 expression on fine needle aspiration biopsy (FNAB) samples using immunocytochemistry.


METHODS
The study was performed on a series of 84 hepatocarcinomas aspirated under ultrasound guidance. A Papanicolaou-stained smear for each case was destained and restained for bcl-2 by using the immunoperoxidase technique. bcl-2 Expression was then correlated with cytologic grading and the size of the tumor.


RESULTS
In 16 cases (19%), bcl-2 immunostaining gave a specific cytoplasmic signal. Fourteen of these positive cases were well differentiated, and two were pleomorphic tumors. Six positive cases were smaller than 5 cm, 3 were larger than 5 cm, and 7 were diffuse.


CONCLUSIONS
A significant percentage of hepatocellular carcinomas produce and accumulate bcl-2 protein in cell cytoplasm. bcl-2 Expression can be detected on destained cytologic smears. bcl-2 Expression seems to correlate with the cytologic degree of differentiation but not with the size of the tumor.
Zeppa
P
P
Laboratory and Cytopathology Service, Institute of Pathology, University of Naples Federico II, Italy.
Benincasa
G
G
Fulciniti
F
F
Cochand-Priollet
B
B
Troncone
G
G
Vetrani
A
A
Celentano
E
E
Nardone
G
G
Palombini
L
L
D017209:Apoptosis; D001707:Biopsy, Needle; D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D006801:Humans; D007124:Immunoenzyme Techniques; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D019253:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2 / Q000378:metabolism
D019253:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2