Expression of HLA-DR in intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma

Expression of HLA-DR was investigated immunohistochemically in 20 cases of intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma, as well as 9 normal livers that had been obtained at autopsy. Five of the nine normal livers had peribiliary glands that showed HLA-DR. Positive staining for HLA-DR on tumor cells was observed in 6 of 13 cases of cholangiocarcinoma of the hepatic hilus and in only 1 of 7 cases of peripheral cholangiocellular carcinoma. In cholangiocarcinomas of the hepatic hilus, the 5-year survival rate for tumors that had positive staining for HLA-DR was better than that for tumors that had negative staining. Based on these results, the presence or absence of HLA-DR on tumor cells could have a pathologic significance for intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma.