Expression of glycoconjugates in intrahepatic cholangiocellular carcinoma

Twenty cases of intrahepatic cholangiocellular carcinoma (IHCCC) were studied by lectin histochemistry for their glycoconjugate expression. Combined alcian blue-peroxidic acid Schiff (ABPS) staining was also made for mucins in these tissues. Results showed that epithelial cells of intrahepatic bile ducts contained varied quantity of DBA, WGA, LCA, Con A, PHA, RCAI, BLAI, SJA, SBA, PSA and UEAI receptors but no PNA receptors. Lectin receptors were present at varying rates; 100% (Con A), 95% (PSA), 90% (LCA), 95% (WGA), 30% (BSAI), 35% (DBA), 65% (PHA), 74% (PNA), 85% (RCAI), 35% (SBA), 25% (SJA) and 55% (UEAI), respectively. The positive rates in well-differentiated IHCCC were significantly higher than those in either moderately or poorly-differentiated IHCCC. The distribution of lectin receptors in IHCCC was obviously different from that in peri-carcinomatous, cirrhotic and normal liver, and also differed from that in epithelial cells of normal intrahepatic bile ducts. All larger ducts were stained by ABPS and were mainly blue colour, while only 80% of IHCCC were positive for ABPS staining. Most of them were blue, others were red or purple. The results suggest that the expression of glycoconjugates had changed after the neoplastic transformation of bile duct cells.