Expression of Fascin-1 and its diagnostic value in liver cancer

Area of Science:

• Oncology
• Biomarker Discovery
• Gastroenterology

Background:

• The diagnostic value of Fascin-1 (FSCN1) in liver cancer, particularly differentiating between hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (ICC), remains unclear.
• FSCN1 is implicated in cancer progression, but its specific role in liver cancer subtypes requires further investigation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To analyze the expression level of FSCN1 protein in various liver tissue types.
• To evaluate the diagnostic and differential diagnostic value of FSCN1 in distinguishing HCC from ICC.

Main Methods:

• Immunehistochemical analysis was employed to detect FSCN1 expression.
• The study included 108 HCC cases, 26 ICC cases, 23 liver cirrhosis cases, and 11 normal liver tissues.
• Statistical analysis compared FSCN1 positive and strong positive expression rates across groups.

Main Results:

• FSCN1 expression was absent in normal liver and cirrhosis tissues, but present in 13.9% of HCC and 92.3% of ICC tissues.
• Strong positive FSCN1 expression was observed in 0.9% of HCC and 69.2% of ICC tissues.
• FSCN1 expression was significantly higher in ICC than in HCC, cirrhosis, and normal tissues, and also in poorly differentiated HCC compared to well-differentiated HCC.

Conclusions:

• FSCN1 expression is significantly upregulated in ICC, suggesting its role in ICC development and progression.
• FSCN1 serves as a potential novel diagnostic marker for ICC, with high sensitivity and specificity.
• The study highlights FSCN1's utility in differentiating ICC from HCC and other liver conditions.