Endothelial cell marker expression in dysplastic lesions of the liver: an immunohistochemical study

Backgrounds/Aims: Hepatocellular carcinoma usually contains continuous capi llary vessels lacking the differentiation markers specific for normal sinus oidal endothelial cells. We therefore aimed to search for alterations ill e ndothelial cell marker expression in precancerous liver lesions. Methods: Expression of the endothelial cell markers CD31, CD34 and BNH9 was analyzed in 138 dysplastic lesions from 40 cirrhotic patients (20 with and 20 without hepatocellular carcinoma). Results: No expression of the three endothelial cell markers was detected i n cirrhotic nodules and in non dysplastic regenerative macronodules. The th ree markers were detected in 29.8 % of dysplastic lesions and 47% of hepato cellular carcinomas. At least one marker was detected in 75% of dysplastic lesions and 100% of hepatocellular carcinomas. The three markers were more frequently expressed in areas of small cell than of large cell change (34 v s 10%). No correlation was found with the grade of dysplasia, the occurrenc e of arterialization and the association with hepatocellular carcinoma. Conclusions: Alterations in the hepatic microcirculation comparable to thos e observed in hepatocellular carcinoma are present in a significant proport ion of dysplastic lesions of the liver and may be indirect markers of the p rocess of liver carcinogenesis. (C) 2001 European Association for the Study of the Liver. Published by Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.