Endothelial cell marker expression in dysplastic lesions of the liver: an immunohistochemical study.
OBJECTIVE
Hepatocellular carcinoma usually contains continuous capillary vessels lacking the differentiation markers specific for normal sinusoidal endothelial cells. We therefore aimed to search for alterations in endothelial cell marker expression in precancerous liver lesions.


METHODS
Expression of the endothelial cell markers CD31, CD34 and BNH9 was analyzed in 138 dysplastic lesions from 40 cirrhotic patients (20 with and 20 without hepatocellular carcinoma).


RESULTS
No expression of the three endothelial cell markers was detected in cirrhotic nodules and in non dysplastic regenerative macronodules. The three markers were detected in 29.8% of dysplastic lesions and 47% of hepatocellular carcinomas. At least one marker was detected in 75% of dysplastic lesions and 100% of hepatocellular carcinomas. The three markers were more frequently expressed in areas of small cell than of large cell change (34 vs 10%). No correlation was found with the grade of dysplasia, the occurrence of arterialization and the association with hepatocellular carcinoma.


CONCLUSIONS
Alterations in the hepatic microcirculation comparable to those observed in hepatocellular carcinoma are present in a significant proportion of dysplastic lesions of the liver and may be indirect markers of the process of liver carcinogenesis.
Frachon
S
S
Service Central d'Anatomie et Cytologie Pathologiques, Hĵpital Edouard Herriot Lyon, France.
Gouysse
G
G
Dumortier
J
J
Couvelard
A
A
Nejjari
M
M
Mion
F
F
Berger
F
F
Paliard
P
P
Boillot
O
O
Scoazec
J Y
JY
D000328:Adult; D018952:Antigens, CD34 / Q000378:metabolism; D015415:Biomarkers; D002196:Capillaries / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000098:blood supply / Q000150:complications / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology*; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D004730:Endothelium, Vascular / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008099:Liver / Q000098:blood supply / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D008103:Liver Cirrhosis / Q000150:complications / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000098:blood supply / Q000150:complications / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D019408:Platelet Endothelial Cell Adhesion Molecule-1 / Q000378:metabolism; D011230:Precancerous Conditions / Q000098:blood supply / Q000150:complications / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology*; D012189:Retrospective Studies
D018952:Antigens, CD34; D015415:Biomarkers; D019408:Platelet Endothelial Cell Adhesion Molecule-1