KL-6 mucin in metastatic liver cancer tissues from primary colorectal carcinoma.
OBJECTIVE
KL-6 mucin is MUC1 bearing sialylated carbohydrate epitopes recognized by KL-6 antibody. This study aimed to assess subcellular localization of KL-6 mucin in liver metastatic tissues from colorectal carcinoma and hepatocellular carcinoma tissues.


METHODS
Tissue samples were collected from 56 patients with liver metastasis of colorectal carcinoma and 92 patients with hepatocellular carcinoma who underwent a hepatectomy. Tissues were subjected to immunohistochemical analysis using KL-6 antibody.


RESULTS
All 56 cases with metastatic liver cancer showed positive staining for KL-6 mucin in cancer tissues but not in non-cancerous tissues. All staining was observed in the circumferential membrane and/or cytoplasm of the cancer cells. In contrast, no staining for KL-6 mucin was observed in either cancerous or non-cancerous tissues of the 92 patients with hepatocellular carcinoma.


CONCLUSIONS
KL-6 mucin may be an indicator for liver metastasis of colorectal carcinoma. Additionally, detection of KL-6 mucin may be helpful in distinguishing hepatocellular carcinoma from metastatic liver cancer.
Zhang
Keming
K
Hepato-Biliary-Pancreatic Surgery Division, Department of Surgery, Graduate School of Medicine, University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan.
Tang
Wei
W
Qu
Xianjun
X
Guo
Qian
Q
Inagaki
Yoshinori
Y
Seyama
Yasuji
Y
Abe
Hideki
H
Gai
Ruoyan
R
Kokudo
Norihiro
N
Sugawara
Yasuhiko
Y
Nakata
Munehiro
M
Makuuchi
Masatoshi
M
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000951:Antigens, Neoplasm / Q000378:metabolism*; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000378:metabolism; D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000378:metabolism*; D015179:Colorectal Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000556:secondary*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D018396:Mucin-1 / Q000378:metabolism*
D000951:Antigens, Neoplasm; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D018396:Mucin-1