High Tricellulin Expression Is Associated With Better Survival In Human Hepatoblastoma.

Abstract

BACKGROUND AND 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 recently identified TJ protein, tricellulin and epigenetic regulator enzyme EZH2 were investigated in epithelial subtypes of HB and related to survival. MATERIAL AND METHODS: 21 cases of epithelial HBs subtyped as pure fetal (n=12) and embryonal/fetal (n=9), along with 16 non-tumorous surrounding liver samples were analysed. by immunohistochemistry for tricellulin, beta-catenin and EZH2 expression. RESULTS: No significant differences were revealed in overall survival between fetal and embryonal/fetal types of HBs. Fetal component, however, showed considerably increased tricellulin expression while embryonal component displayed significantly increased nuclear EZH2 positivity in comparison to other epithelial subtype and non-tumorous surrounding hepatocytes. Strong nuclear beta-catenin staining was notably more frequent in embryonal than in fetal type. High tricellulin expression was associated with significantly increased overall survival (p=0.03), while elevated EZH2 expression was linked to presence of distant metastases (p=0.013). CONCLUSIONS: Our data indicate that treated HBs showing high expression of tricellulin reveal significantly better overall survival independent of histological subtype. Increased nuclear expression ofEZH2 was associated with the presence of distant metastases. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.