Viral hepatitis is associated with intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma with cholangiolar differentiation and N-cadherin expression

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http://www.nature.com/modpathol/journal/vaop/ncurrent/full/modpathol201141a.html

Original Article

Modern Pathology , (18 March 2011) | doi:10.1038/modpathol.2011.41

Viral hepatitis is associated with intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma with

cholangiolar differentiation and N-cadherin expression

Tsan-Hua Yu, Ray-Hwang Yuan, Yu-Ling Chen, Wan-Ching Yang, Hey-Chi Hsu and

Yung-Ming Jeng

Abstract

Viral hepatitis-associated intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma is thought to have

common disease processes with hepatocellular carcinoma, but until now the

histomorphological and genetic features of viral hepatitis-associated

intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma is still unknown. From 2000 to 2010, 170

patients with intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma who received detailed pathological

assessment and regular follow-up at the National Taiwan University Hospital were

selected for this study. Of 170 patients, 69 (41%) were positive for hepatitis B

and/or C virus. These patients were younger, were more frequently male, and had

elevated serum á-fetoprotein levels as compared with seronegative intrahepatic

cholangiocarcinoma patients. Grossly these tumors were mostly of the

mass-forming type, and histologically, cholangiolar differentiation was more

frequently seen. We identified N-cadherin as an immunohistochemical marker

strongly associated with hepatitis virus infection. The prevalence of viral

hepatitis in patients with N-cadherin-positive intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma

was 75%, and that in N-cadherin-negative patients was only 37%.

N-cadherin-positive patients were younger, had elevated á-fetoprotein, and had

no hepatolithiasis. All N-cadherin-positive intrahepatic cholangiocarcinomas

were of the mass-forming type. N-cadherin positivity was strongly associated

with cholangiolar morphology and lack of carcinoembryonic antigen and MUC2

expression, whereas K-RAS mutations were less frequent. Our results indicate

that a subgroup of intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma characterized by cholangiolar

differentiation and N-cadherin expression is strongly associated with viral

hepatitis.

[Guest guest]

http://www.nature.com/modpathol/journal/vaop/ncurrent/full/modpathol201141a.html

Original Article

Modern Pathology , (18 March 2011) | doi:10.1038/modpathol.2011.41

Viral hepatitis is associated with intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma with

cholangiolar differentiation and N-cadherin expression

Tsan-Hua Yu, Ray-Hwang Yuan, Yu-Ling Chen, Wan-Ching Yang, Hey-Chi Hsu and

Yung-Ming Jeng

Abstract

Viral hepatitis-associated intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma is thought to have

common disease processes with hepatocellular carcinoma, but until now the

histomorphological and genetic features of viral hepatitis-associated

intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma is still unknown. From 2000 to 2010, 170

patients with intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma who received detailed pathological

assessment and regular follow-up at the National Taiwan University Hospital were

selected for this study. Of 170 patients, 69 (41%) were positive for hepatitis B

and/or C virus. These patients were younger, were more frequently male, and had

elevated serum á-fetoprotein levels as compared with seronegative intrahepatic

cholangiocarcinoma patients. Grossly these tumors were mostly of the

mass-forming type, and histologically, cholangiolar differentiation was more

frequently seen. We identified N-cadherin as an immunohistochemical marker

strongly associated with hepatitis virus infection. The prevalence of viral

hepatitis in patients with N-cadherin-positive intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma

was 75%, and that in N-cadherin-negative patients was only 37%.

N-cadherin-positive patients were younger, had elevated á-fetoprotein, and had

no hepatolithiasis. All N-cadherin-positive intrahepatic cholangiocarcinomas

were of the mass-forming type. N-cadherin positivity was strongly associated

with cholangiolar morphology and lack of carcinoembryonic antigen and MUC2

expression, whereas K-RAS mutations were less frequent. Our results indicate

that a subgroup of intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma characterized by cholangiolar

differentiation and N-cadherin expression is strongly associated with viral

hepatitis.