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Diagnostic utility of Glut‐1 and CA 15‐3 in discriminating adenocarcinoma from hepatocellular carcinoma in liver tumors biopsied by fine‐needle aspiration
Author(s) -
Zimmerman Robert L.,
Burke Melissa,
Young Nancy A.,
Solomides Charalambos C.,
Bibbo Marluce
Publication year - 2002
Publication title -
cancer cytopathology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 3.052
H-Index - 304
eISSN - 1097-0142
pISSN - 0008-543X
DOI - 10.1002/cncr.10309
Subject(s) - medicine , hepatocellular carcinoma , pathology , malignancy , carcinoma , carcinoembryonic antigen , adenocarcinoma , fine needle aspiration , biopsy , cancer , immunohistochemistry , immunostaining , staining
BACKGROUND Diagnosing liver tumors can be difficult in the setting of a poorly differentiated tumor or tumors with no known prior malignancy. Frequently, α‐fetoprotein, carcinoembryonic antigen, factor VIII, and mucicarmine have been employed to distinguish hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) from adenocarcinoma. However, these stains have their limitations. CA 15‐3 and Glut‐1 are expressed in a variety of carcinomas. To the authors' knowledge, their expression in HCC has not been studied extensively. The authors examined the clinical utility of CA 15‐3 and Glut‐1 in the setting of fine‐needle aspiration biopsy samples from the liver. METHODS Thirty‐five cases of HCC and 59 cases of tumors metastatic to the liver were studied. These cases previously were studied with the hepatocyte paraffin‐1 antibody. Each case was stained with CA 15‐3 and Glut‐1 using the avidin‐biotin complex method. Each case was evaluated in a blinded fashion for membranous staining that was stronger than cytoplasmic or background staining. The diagnoses were unblinded and staining patterns were compared. RESULTS CA 15‐3 stained 43 of 59 metastatic carcinoma samples and 3 of 35 HCC samples. Glut‐1 stained 34 of 59 metastases and 2 of 35 HCCs. Together, the 2 immunostains stained 51 of 59 metastases and 5 of 35 HCCs. Diagnostic accuracy was improved by adding hepatocyte paraffin‐1 to the staining panel. CONCLUSIONS CA 15‐3 and Glut‐1, especially in conjunction with hepatocyte paraffin‐1, appear to be helpful in discriminating HCC from other carcinomas. Cancer (Cancer Cytopathol) 2002;96:53–7. © 2002 American Cancer Society.