Blood-group-related antigen Lewis(x) and Lewis(y) in the differential diagnosis of cholangiocarcinoma and hepatocellular carcinoma

R. Jovanovic, J. Jagirdar, S. N. Thung, F. Paronetto

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

26 Scopus citations

Abstract

Distribution of Lewis(x) (Le(x)) and Lewis(y) (Le(y)) blood-group antigens was studied in nine formaldehyde-fixed, paraffin-embedded cholangiocarcinomas (CCs), 26 hepatocellular carcinomas (HCCs), and eight normal livers. All CCs, with one exception, expressed both Le(x) and Le(y) antigens on few or many cells. In HCCs Le(x) was expressed infrequently (8%), while Le(y) was detected in 31% of cases. Both markers, when present in HCCs, tended to be spotty. Fibrolamellar carcinomas and normal livers did not react with either Le(x) or Le(y) antigens; however, Le(y) antigen was observed occasionally in bile duct epithelial and ductular cells. In conclusion, inappropriate tissue distribution of Le(y) blood-group antigens was observed in CCs and, much less frequently, in HCCs. The high frequency of Le(x) antigen in CCs but not in HCCs may help in the differential diagnosis of these two tumors.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)139-142
Number of pages4
JournalArchives of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine
Volume113
Issue number2
StatePublished - 1989
Externally publishedYes

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Pathology and Forensic Medicine
  • Medical Laboratory Technology

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