Transcriptomic Analysis of Cirrhosis-Like Hepatocellular Carcinoma Reveals Distinct Molecular Characteristics and Pathologic Staging Implications.

Autor: Treeck, Benjamin J Van, Moreira, Roger K, Mounajjed, Taofic, Ferrell, Linda, Xue, Yue, Jessen, Erik, Davila, Jaime, Graham, Rondell P, Van Treeck, Benjamin J
Zdroj: American Journal of Clinical Pathology; Dec2022, Vol. 158 Issue 6, p750-758, 9p
Abstrakt: Objectives: Cirrhosis-like hepatocellular carcinoma (CL-HCC) is a rare hepatocellular malignancy characterized by multiple tumor nodules that clinically, radiologically, macroscopically, and microscopically mimic cirrhosis. We aimed to elucidate the molecular biology of CL-HCC and determine tumor nodule clonality.Methods: We performed RNA sequencing on formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded tissue from confirmed CL-HCC cases (n = 6), along with corresponding nonneoplastic hepatic tissue (n = 4) when available. Transcriptomes from our previous work on steatohepatitic hepatocellular carcinoma and The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) were used for comparison purposes.Results: Histologically, CL-HCC displayed innumerable nodules and extensive vascular invasion. Intratumoral nodule comparison indicated that the multiple nodules were all clonally related, not independent primaries. The unique histomorphologic appearance corresponded with a distinct transcriptome compared with other HCCs, including fibrolamellar HCC (n = 6), steatohepatitic HCC (n = 8), and conventional HCC in TCGA (n = 424). Tumor-normal gene expression analysis revealed consistent overexpression of several genes involved in degradation of tissue matrix. No recurrent translocations or point mutations were identified. CL-HCC showed a gene expression profile indicative of zone 2 hepatocytes.Conclusions: CL-HCC's distinctive clinicopathologic features correspond to a unique gene expression profile, increased expression of invasive markers, features of zone 2 hepatocytes, and features suggestive of intratumoral nodule monoclonality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
Databáze: Complementary Index