Abstract:Objective To study the expression and significance of caveolin1 protein and mRNA in liver cancers and paracancer liver tissues.
Methods The expressions of caveolin1 protein and mRNA were detected by immunohistochemistry and in situ hybridization in 10 cases of normal liver tissue, and 50 cases of liver cancer and paracancer liver tissue.
Results Caveolin1 protein and mRNA were mainly expressed in vascular endothelial cells in hepatocellular carcinomas(HCC). The expression intensities of caveolin1 protein and mRNA were not related to differentiation degree of HCCs. In paracancer liver tissues, the positive signal of caveolin1 protein and mRNA was localized at sinusoidal endothelial cells, hepatic stellate cells, vascular endothelial cells and proliferative bile duct epithelial cells The hepatocytes in liver cirrhosis and paracancer tissues with atypical hyperplasia overexpressed caveolin1 protein and mRNA. Cancer cells and vascular endothelial cells in cholangiocellular carcinomas all over-expressed caveolin1 protein and mRNA. The expression intensities of caveolin1 protein and mRNA in cholangiocellular carcinomas were significantly higher than those in HCCs. The expression intensities of caveolin1 protein and mRNA in patients with HBsAg and AFP positive HCC were obviously lower than those in patients with HBsAg and AFP negative HCC.
Conclusions The weak or deleted expression of caveolin1 protein and mRNA in HCCs may be an important reason for the high degree of malignancy, rapid growth rate and frequent occurrence of metastasis in contrast to cholangiocellular carcinoma. Detection of caveolin1 expression may be one of the useful indexes for differentiation of HCC from cholangiocellular carcinoma.