Interrelations between hepatic stellate cells and immune system cells in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma

Vol. 56 No. 2 Suppl., 2015
This supplement was not sponsored by Outside Organizations.

ROMANIAN JOURNAL of MORPHOLOGY and EMBRYOLOGY

Alin Gabriel Ionescu, Sergiu Marian Cazacu, Costin Teodor Streba, Mircea Catalin Fortofoiu, Marius Eugen Ciurea, Mihaela Ionescu, Otilia Rogoveanu, Violeta Comanescu, Stefan George Firu, Cristin Constantin Vere

Objective: Our aim was to identify potential correlations between activated hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) and immune system s cells in patients with viral C hepatocellular carcinoma, by quantifying the percentage of activated HSCs, T-lymphocytes, natural killer cells and B-lymphocytes, in three distinct regions: tumor, transition area and the vicinity tissue (2-5 mm). Patients and Methods: We prospectively included 20 samples prelevated at necropsy from patients with HCC and C viral infection. We assessed the percentage of alpha-smooth muscle actin (alpha-SMA), CD45RO, NK1 and CD20 expression using immunohistochemistry and a semi-quantitative scoring method. Results: We found an inverse correlation between the number of alpha-SMA-positive HSCs and the number of NK1-positive cells in tumor (p=0.0007), in the transition area/tumor capsule (p=0.024) and in the vicinity tissue (p=0.038). Regarding T-lymphocytes, we have also identified an inverse correlation with the number of alpha-SMA-positive HSCs in tumor (p=0.0036), in the transition area/tumor capsule (p=0.034) and in the vicinity tissue (p=0.047). We found no correlation between the number of activated HSCs and the number of CD20-positive cells in all three examined areas. Conclusions: The analysis of HSCs activity within specified areas of tumoral liver tissue may lead to new perspectives in early diagnosis of relapses and in the development of future neoadjuvant therapies.

Corresponding author: Sergiu Marian Cazacu, Lecturer, MD, PhD; e-mail: cc.vere.umf@gmail.com

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ROMANIAN JOURNAL of MORPHOLOGY and EMBRYOLOGY

Tatiana Georgiana Radu, Laurentiu Mogoanta, Cristina Jana Busuioc, Casiana Stanescu, Florin Grosu

Papillary thyroid carcinoma is one of the most common malignancies of the endocrine system. In recent years, its incidence has increased worldwide, including children, which concerns the entire community. Although the histopathological diagnosis seems rather easy, the existence of particular forms of thyroid cancer and the inclusion of the follicular aspect as a variant of papillary carcinoma lead to diagnostic confusion. Therefore, in the last 20 years were reviewed several immunohistochemical markers, which are useful in the positive and differential diagnosis, and which offer better data on disease prognosis. Our study included a total of 27 cases of papillary carcinomas, which we evaluated the immunohistochemical expression of Ki-67, p53, p63, E-cadherin, CD56, calretinin, and bcl-2 markers. The most intense expression was found in p53, E-cadherin, and bcl-2. Ki-67 and p63 expression were moderate and inconsistent, and CD56 and calretinin had a negative expression in all cases.

Corresponding author: Laurentiu Mogoanta, Professor, MD, PhD; e-mail: laurentiu_mogoanta@yahoo.com

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