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Polymeric Ig receptor expression in hepatocellular carcinoma
M Rossel1, E Seilles, J J Voigt
1Laboratoire Universitaire d'Immunologie, Faculté de Médecine, Besancon, France.
European Journal of Cancer (Oxford, England : 1990)
|January 1, 1992
Summary
Elevated secretory component (SC) in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) patients is not linked to polymeric Ig receptor (pIg-R) expression in tumor cells. pIg-R may serve as a biliary cell marker, with high SC potentially from bile reflux or biliary structure release.
Area of Science:
- Hepatobiliary pathology
- Cellular biology
- Cancer research
Background:
- Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a primary liver cancer.
- Secretory component (SC) levels can be elevated in HCC patients.
- The role of polymeric Ig receptor (pIg-R) and carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) in HCC is not fully understood.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the cellular localization of pIg-R and CEA in HCC patients with high serum SC.
- To correlate serum SC levels with bilirubin and identify the cellular source of elevated SC.
Main Methods:
- Immunohistochemical analysis of liver tissue for cytokeratins (CK 8, 18, 19), pIg-R, and CEA.
- Measurement of serum SC and bilirubin levels in HCC patients and normal subjects.
Main Results:
- Serum SC was significantly increased (6-20 fold) in HCC patients and correlated positively with bilirubin.
- In normal liver, CK 8/18 were in hepatocytes/biliary cells; pIg-R/CK 19 were restricted to biliary cells.
- HCC cells showed weak CK 8/18 expression; pIg-R and CK 19 were absent. Proliferating biliary cells in fibrosis showed strong CK and pIg-R staining.
Conclusions:
- Increased serum SC in HCC is not associated with pIg-R expression in tumor cells.
- pIg-R appears to be a marker for biliary cells, not malignant hepatocytes.
- High serum SC may result from bile reflux or release from proliferating, non-functional biliary structures.