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High tricellulin expression is associated with better survival in human hepatoblastoma
Author(s) -
Schlachter Krisztina,
Gyugos Mónika,
Halász Judit,
Lendvai Gábor,
Baghy Kornélia,
Garami Miklós,
Gyöngyösi Benedek,
Schaff Zsuzsa,
Kiss András
Publication year - 2014
Publication title -
histopathology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.626
H-Index - 124
eISSN - 1365-2559
pISSN - 0309-0167
DOI - 10.1111/his.12436
Subject(s) - hepatoblastoma , ezh2 , fetus , immunohistochemistry , biology , pathology , cancer research , epigenetics , medicine , immunology , genetics , gene , pregnancy
Aims The more differentiated fetal component of hepatoblastoma ( HB ) is characterized by increased expression of tight junction ( TJ ) proteins claudin‐1 and ‐2 when compared with embryonal component. Expression patterns of the recently identified TJ protein tricellulin and the epigenetic regulator enzyme EZH 2 were investigated in epithelial subtypes of HB and related to survival. Methods and results Twenty‐one cases of epithelial HB s subtyped as pure fetal ( n = 12) and embryonal/fetal ( n = 9), along with 16 non‐tumorous samples from surrounding liver, were analysed by immunohistochemistry for tricellulin, β‐catenin and EZH 2 expression. No significant differences were revealed in overall survival between fetal and embryonal/fetal types of HB s. The fetal component, however, showed considerably increased tricellulin expression while the embryonal component displayed significantly increased nuclear EZH 2 positivity, in comparison to other epithelial subtypes and non‐tumorous surrounding hepatocytes. Strong nuclear β‐catenin staining was notably more frequent in embryonal than in fetal types. High tricellulin expression was associated with significantly increased overall survival ( P = 0.03), while elevated EZH 2 expression was linked to the presence of distant metastases ( P = 0.013). Conclusions Our data indicate that patients with treated HB s showing high expression of tricellulin have significantly better overall survival, independent of histological subtype. Increased nuclear expression of EZH 2 was associated with the presence of distant metastases.