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Distribution of basement membrane components in human hepatocellular carcinoma
Author(s) -
Donato Maria Francesca,
Colombo Massimo,
Matarazzo Margherita,
Paronetto Fiorenzo
Publication year - 1989
Publication title -
cancer
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 3.052
H-Index - 304
eISSN - 1097-0142
pISSN - 0008-543X
DOI - 10.1002/1097-0142(19890115)63:2<272::aid-cncr2820630212>3.0.co;2-l
Subject(s) - pathology , laminin , hepatocellular carcinoma , basement membrane , stromal cell , immunohistochemistry , staining , fibronectin , antigen , stroma , carcinoma , metastasis , biology , medicine , extracellular matrix , cancer , cancer research , immunology , microbiology and biotechnology , genetics
The distribution of fibronectin (FN), laminin (LAM), and collagen IV (Coll IV), three components of the basement membranes (BM), was investigated in human hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and the surrounding uninvolved liver and was compared with the grade of differentiation of the tumor. The following three patterns of BM antigens were observed in HCC: (1) peritrabecular or periacinar, (2) pericellular, and (3) stromal‐vascular. In the more differentiated tumors, FN, LAM, and Coll IV were observed in a peritrabecular or periacinar pattern whereas a pericellular pattern was only seen with anti‐FN antisera that occasionally stained the content of acini. Double staining showed that the four antigens were usually codistributed. Occasionally, however, there was a different distribution along the BM suggesting an heterogeneity in the composition of BM. In the more anaplastic tumors and in the intrahepatic metastasis, BM components were seen around vessels and in the stroma and they were usually fragmented. The finding that FN can be located pericellularly or within acini supports the concept that FN is synthesized, at least in part, by hepatoma cells. The peritrabecular and periacinar location of Coll IV and LAM suggests a sinusoidal cell derivation of these two antigens. The immunohistochemical staining patterns for BM in HCC reflect the differentiation of the tumor, with differentiated tumors showing a relatively intact BM and poorly differentiated tumors showing a sharply defective BM.