[Expression of epithelial-cadherin, CD44v6 and connexin43 in hepatocellular carcinoma].
OBJECTIVE
To study the expression of epithelial-cadherin (E-cad), CD44v6 and Cx43 in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and its relationship with sex and age of patients, as well as tumor histopathologic grades.


METHODS
Double immunofluorescent staining and laser scanning confocal microscopy was used to study the expression of E-cad, CD44v6 and Cx43 in 30 cases of normal liver tissue, 25 cases of benign hepatic lesions and 38 cases of HCC. In the HCC group, correlation of antigen expression with sex and age of patients and tumor histopathologic grades was studied by T-test.


RESULTS
Significant decrease in expression of E-cad and Cx43 was noted in HCC group, as compared to normal liver tissue and benign hepatic lesion (P<0.05). On the other hand, CD44v6 expression was higher in HCC group than in the other two groups (P<0.05). In HCC group, the expression of E-cad and Cx43 did not correlate with sex, age and histopathologic grades (P>0.05). However, CD44v6 expression positively correlated with higher tumor histopathologic grades (P<0.05) but not sex and age of patients (P>0.05). In HCC group, the expression of E-cad positively correlated with that of Cx43, while the expression of CD44v6 negatively correlated with that of E-cad and Cx43.


CONCLUSIONS
Tumor immunophenotype alters during development and progression of HCC. Low expression of E-cad and Cx43 and high expression of CD44v6 may be related to aggressive clinical behavior of HCC, moreover, high expression of CD44v6 correlated with high tumor grades. Detection of E-cad, CD44v6 and Cx43 expression may thus be useful in predicting prognosis of HCC.
Zhang
Bao-yan
BY
Department of Pathology, 117 Military Hospital, Hangzhou 310013, China. bonniebaby76@hotmail.com
Dai
Xiao-wen
XW
Chen
Qing-yong
QY
Fang
Li
L
Qian
Bin
B
Sun
Guo-ying
GY
Cui
Hai-hong
HH
D000328:Adult; D015820:Cadherins / Q000378:metabolism*; D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D018031:Connexin 43 / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D005455:Fluorescent Antibody Technique; D006801:Humans; D018960:Hyaluronan Receptors / Q000378:metabolism*; D008099:Liver / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D018613:Microscopy, Confocal; D008875:Middle Aged; D011379:Prognosis
C112697:CD44v6 antigen; D015820:Cadherins; D018031:Connexin 43; D018960:Hyaluronan Receptors