FAT, E-cadherin, beta catenin, HER 2/neu, Ki67 immuno-expression, and histological grade in intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma.
OBJECTIVE
To identify surrogate prognostic markers in intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (IHCC).


METHODS
Thirty one cases of IHCC were graded and immunostained for FAT, Ki67, E-cadherin, beta catenin, and HER 2/neu.


RESULTS
Twenty two cases were high grade and 27 had high Ki67 counts. Strong membranous staining of HER 2/neu was found in 10 tumours and reduced membranous E-cadherin and beta catenin in 19 and 18 tumours, respectively. Nuclear localisation of beta catenin was identified in five tumours and 22 showed weak cytoplasmic staining of FAT. Strong HER 2/neu and weak FAT immuno-expression were significantly correlated with high histological grade (p=0.01) and high Ki67 index (p=0.03). Upregulation of HER 2/neu was also significantly associated with nuclear localisation of beta catenin (p=0.01). Reduced membranous beta catenin was significantly related to reduced membranous E-cadherin (p=0.03), weak staining for FAT (p=0.01), and nuclear translocation of beta catenin (p=0.04).


CONCLUSIONS
Reduced immuno-expression of E-cadherin and FAT at their normal membranous location may be potential prognostic markers, and the overexpression of HER 2/neu and beta catenin nuclear translocation may have a role in cholangiocarcinogenesis.
Settakorn
J
J
Hunter Area Pathology Service, Locked Bag 1, HRMC, Newcastle, Australia 2310.
Kaewpila
N
N
Burns
G F
GF
Leong
A S-Y
AS
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001650:Bile Duct Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D001653:Bile Ducts, Intrahepatic; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000378:metabolism*; D015820:Cadherins / Q000378:metabolism; D002467:Cell Nucleus / Q000378:metabolism; D018281:Cholangiocarcinoma / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D019394:Ki-67 Antigen / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D011379:Prognosis; D018719:Erb-b2 Receptor Tyrosine Kinases / Q000378:metabolism; D051176:beta Catenin / Q000378:metabolism
D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D015820:Cadherins; D019394:Ki-67 Antigen; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins; D018719:Erb-b2 Receptor Tyrosine Kinases; D051176:beta Catenin; C502403:FAT1 protein, human