CD44 and VEGF expression in extrahepatic metastasis of human hepatocellular carcinoma.
OBJECTIVE
We investigated the correlation between vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and CD44 expression in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and the frequency of extrahepatic metastasis, in order to evaluate the influence of vascular growth and adhesion molecules in facilitation of distant metastasis.


METHODS
We obtained materials from primary lesions of HCC with no extrahepatic metastasis (control group) and primary lesions and metastatic lesions with extrahepatic metastasis (metastasis group). Immunohistochemical staining was performed using anti-human CD44v3 monoclonal antibodies and anti-human VEGF ab-3 monoclonal antibodies. Although pathological parameters such as tumor size, differentiation, capsule formation, and vascular invasion were analyzed, there was no marked difference among the groups.


RESULTS
Percentages of nodules with VEGF-positive tumor and sinusoidal cells were low in primary lesions of the control and metastasis groups, while high in metastatic lesions in the metastasis group. On the other hand, percentages of nodules with CD44-positive tumor and sinusoidal cells were low in primary lesions of the control group, while high in primary lesions and metastatic lesions of the metastasis group.


CONCLUSIONS
The present study demonstrated that CD44 expression in primary lesions is related to a higher frequency of extrahepatic metastasis, suggesting that this is a clinicopathologically useful parameter in predicting the occurrence of distant metastasis.
Hirohashi
Kazuhiro
K
Hepato-Biliary-Pancreatic Surgery, and Gastroenterological Surgery, Osaka City University Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka, Japan. m2664791@msic.med.osaka-cu.ac.jp
Yamamoto
Takatsugu
T
Uenishi
Takahiro
T
Ogawa
Masao
M
Sakabe
Katsu
K
Takemura
Shigekazu
S
Shuto
Taichi
T
Tanaka
Hiromu
H
Kubo
Shoji
S
Kinoshita
Hiroaki
H
D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology / Q000556:secondary*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D018960:Hyaluronan Receptors / Q000032:analysis*; D007150:Immunohistochemistry / Q000379:methods; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011379:Prognosis; D013194:Staining and Labeling; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / Q000031:analogs & derivatives*
D018960:Hyaluronan Receptors; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A