Insulin-like growth factor II mRNA-binding protein 3 (IMP3) expression in hepatocellular carcinoma. A clinicopathological analysis with emphasis on diagnostic value.
OBJECTIVE
Patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) usually present with advanced disease and rarely qualify for curative therapy. Immunohistochemical markers that help to discriminate benign from malignant processes early, and that have prognostic significance, would be useful. Expression of the oncofetal protein insulin-like growth factor II mRNA-binding protein 3 (IMP3) in malignant cells of different tumour types correlates with reduced overall survival.


RESULTS
Tissue microarrays (TMAs) containing 55 normal liver samples, 365 HCCs (122 with corresponding non-tumorous liver), 10 hepatocellular adenomas, 13 focal nodular hyperplasias and nine dysplastic nodules from western European patients were stained for IMP3. IMP3 was analysed in 61 core needle biopsies and findings were compared to glypican-3 and CD34. HCCs in TMAs were strongly positive for IMP3 in 18.4% of cases compared to absent expression in normal and non-tumorous liver tissue and benign liver tumours. Patients with IMP3 expression in HCCs showed significantly poorer overall survival in multivariate analysis (P = 0.044). Of the 61 core needle biopsies analysed, 32 (52.5%) of the HCCs were IMP3-positive.


CONCLUSIONS
In core needle biopsies, IMP3 expression seems to be of limited use as a single marker for the diagnosis of HCC, given a sensitivity of 52%, but it may be helpful in combination with other markers.
Institute of Pathology, University Hospital Erlangen, Germany. david.wachter@uk-erlangen.de
David L
DL
Wachter
Glen
G
Kristiansen
Christopher
C
Soll
Claus
C
Hellerbrand
Kai
K
Breuhahn
Florian
F
Fritzsche
Abbas
A
Agaimy
Arndt
A
Hartmann
Marc-Oliver
MO
Riener
D018248:Adenoma, Liver Cell / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000378:metabolism / Q000401:mortality; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D018952:Antigens, CD34 / Q000378:metabolism; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D001707:Biopsy, Needle; D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000401:mortality; D002648:Child; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005260:Female; D020518:Focal Nodular Hyperplasia / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000378:metabolism / Q000401:mortality; D015972:Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic; D053673:Glypicans / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D008099:Liver / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000401:mortality; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016601:RNA-Binding Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D015996:Survival Rate; D055815:Young Adult
D018952:Antigens, CD34; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D053673:Glypicans; C498780:IGF2BP3 protein, human; D016601:RNA-Binding Proteins