[A study on vasculogenic mimicry in hepatocellular carcinoma].
OBJECTIVE
To explore if vasculogenic mimicry (VM) exists in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and to explain the clinical significance of VM.


METHODS
Ninety-nine HCC resection specimens with complete clinical and prognostic data were collected. Immunohistochemical staining of CD31 and CD105, hepatocyte and PAS staining of the histological preparations were conducted to explore if VM exists in those HCC.


RESULTS
12.12% (12 specimens) of the 99 specimens exhibited evidence of VM. One of 40 HCC specimens (2.5%) which belong to Edmondson pathologic grade I-II exhibited VM; 11 of 59 HCC specimens which belong to Edmondson pathologic grade III-VI (18.64%) exhibited VM, the low differentiated HCC (grade III-VI) exhibited more VM specimens than the high differentiated HCC (grade I-II) (chi2=4.416, P < 0.05). The biological behavior of VM was assessed and the stages of the cancers, using the TNM (tumor, node, metastases) classification criteria, were analyzed. These parameters of the VM and non-VM groups were compared. The mean TNM stage of the VM group was not more advanced than that of the non-VM group. The hematogenous metastases ( lung, bone, peritoneum et al) between the 2 groups were compared, and in the VM group the hematogenous metastasis rate was higher (chi2=8.873, P < 0.01). Kaplan-Meier actuarial survival curves were used to compare the VM group (n = 12) with the non-VM group (n = 87). Median survival time of the VM group was 9 months and that of the non-VM group was 31 months. The VM group had a lower survival rate than the non-VM group (P < 0.01).


CONCLUSIONS
VM exists in HCC, and the higher invasive HCCs exhibit more VM than the less invasive HCCs. The HCC patients in the VM group had a higher rate of hematogenous metastases, a lower survival rate, and a poorer prognosis.
Zhao
Xiu-lan
XL
Department of Pathology, Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin 300070, China.
Du
Jing
J
Zhang
Shi-wu
SW
Liu
Yi-xin
YX
Wang
Xin
X
Sun
Bao-cun
BC
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000098:blood supply* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000098:blood supply* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008833:Microcirculation; D008875:Middle Aged; D009389:Neovascularization, Pathologic / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology