Expression of integrin ανβ6 differentiates perihilar cholangiocarcinoma (PHC) from benign disease mimicking PHC

BackgroundApproximately 15% of patients undergoing resection for presumed perihilar cholangiocarcinoma (PHC) have benign disease at final pathological assessment. Molecular imaging targeting tumor-specific biomarkers could serve as a novel diagnostic tool to reduce these futile surgeries. Imaging agents been developed, selectively binding integrin ανβ6, cell receptor upregulated in pancreatobiliary malignancies, both (preoperative) PET and (intraoperative) fluorescent imaging. Here, expression ανβ6 is evaluated PHC, intrahepatic (ICC), hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) mimicking PHC using immunohistochemistry.Materials & methodsThree tissue microarrays (TMA) including 103 tumor cores sixty samples were selected from specimens pathologically proven (n = 20), ICC 10), HCC metastatic lymph nodes 10) (presumed with assessment, n 10). These stained quantified the H-score.ResultsImmunohistochemical staining showed membranous all twenty whole mount slides (100%) 93 out (92%) cores. Mean H-score was 195 ± 71, compared mean 126 57 (p 0.013). In samples, inflammatory infiltrates pre-existent peribiliary glands expression. The across ten 33 53, which significantly lower < 0.001) but too weak consistently discriminate (H-score 0)(p 0.062).ConclusionIntegrin abundantly expressed associated nodes. Expression higher HCC, emphasizing its potential target molecular