Expression of Markers of Hepatocellular Differentiation in Pancreatic Acinar Cell Neoplasms:  A Potential Diagnostic Pitfall. Academic Article uri icon

Overview

abstract

  • OBJECTIVES: Pancreatic acinar cell carcinoma (ACC) is a rare tumor that frequently metastasizes to the liver and may present a diagnostic challenge due to its morphologic similarity to hepatocellular carcinoma. We investigated α-fetoprotein (AFP), hepatocyte paraffin antigen 1 (HepPar 1), glypican 3, arginase 1, and albumin messenger RNA (mRNA) in situ hybridization (ISH) in pancreatic neoplasms with ACC differentiation to assess their diagnostic value. METHODS: AFP, HepPar 1, glypican 3, and arginase 1 immunohistochemical staining was performed on 28 ACCs using a tissue microarray. Albumin mRNA ISH was performed on full-faced sections. RESULTS: Fifteen tumors were positive for at least one marker. Glypican 3 was positive in seven of 28, AFP in five 28, and albumin mRNA ISH in five of 20. None expressed arginase 1. CONCLUSIONS: Hepatocellular differentiation markers, including albumin mRNA ISH, may be positive in ACC, but arginase 1 appears to be uniformly negative. Thus, its use may improve the accuracy in distinguishing these neoplasms from hepatocellular carcinoma. If ACC diagnosis is considered, acinar differentiation can be reliably demonstrated by trypsin/chymotrypsin.

publication date

  • July 17, 2016

Research

keywords

  • Biomarkers, Tumor
  • Carcinoma, Acinar Cell
  • Carcinoma, Hepatocellular
  • Liver Neoplasms
  • Pancreatic Neoplasms

Identity

PubMed Central ID

  • PMC5731433

Scopus Document Identifier

  • 85013720508

Digital Object Identifier (DOI)

  • 10.1093/ajcp/aqw096

PubMed ID

  • 27425386

Additional Document Info

volume

  • 146

issue

  • 2