title: Current concepts in the immunohistochemical evaluation of liver tumors.
abstract: Immunohistochemistry often plays an important role in the evaluation of liver tumors. Recent advances have established a classification system for hepatocellular adenomas (HCAs) based on morphology, molecular alterations, and immunohistochemistry. Specifically, loss of liver fatty acid binding protein is seen in HNF1α-inactivated HCA, staining with serum amyloid A is seen in inflammatory HCA, and diffuse staining with glutamine synthetase (GS) is seen in β-catenin activated HCA. A panel of immunohistochemical stains including glypican-3 (GPC-3), heat shock protein 70, and GS are useful in distinguishing HCC from non-malignant dysplastic nodules. Immunohistochemistry is also useful to determine whether a liver tumor is of primary hepatocellular or metastatic origin. Recently described markers useful for this purpose include arginase-1, GPC-3, and bile salt export pump. These newer markers may offer superior utility when compared to traditional markers of hepatocellular differentiation such as alpha-fetoprotein, hepatocyte paraffin-1, polyclonal carcinoembryonic antigen, and CD10. This paper will review recent advances in the immunohistochemical evaluation of liver tumors.
authors.affiliation: Anne K Koehne de Gonzalez, Marcela A Salomao, Stephen M Lagana, Department of Pathology and Cell Biology, College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia University, New York, NY 10032, United States.
authors.forename: Anne K
authors.initials: AK
authors.lastname: Koehne de Gonzalez
authors.affiliation: Anne K Koehne de Gonzalez, Marcela A Salomao, Stephen M Lagana, Department of Pathology and Cell Biology, College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia University, New York, NY 10032, United States.
authors.forename: Marcela A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Salomao
authors.affiliation: Anne K Koehne de Gonzalez, Marcela A Salomao, Stephen M Lagana, Department of Pathology and Cell Biology, College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia University, New York, NY 10032, United States.
authors.forename: Stephen M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Lagana
keywords: Focal nodular hyperplasia; Hepatocellular adenoma; Hepatocellular carcinoma; Immunohistochemistry