Serum Wisteria Floribunda Agglutinin-Positive Sialylated Mucin 1 as a Marker of Progenitor/Biliary Features in Hepatocellular Carcinoma

Sci Rep. 2017 Mar 21;7(1):244. doi: 10.1038/s41598-017-00357-8.

Abstract

Histological molecular classification of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is clinically important for predicting the prognosis. However, a reliable serum marker has not been established. The aim of this study was to evaluate the diagnostic value of serum Wisteria Floribunda agglutinin-positive sialylated mucin 1 (WFA-sialylated MUC1), which is a novel biliary marker, as a marker of HCC with hepatic progenitor cell (HPC)/biliary features and of prognosis. A total of 144 consecutive patients who underwent complete radiofrequency ablation of primary HCC were enrolled. A serum WFA-sialylated MUC1 level of 900 μL/mL was determined as the optimal cutoff value for prediction of immunohistochemical staining for HPC/biliary features [sialylated MUC1 and cytokeratin 19 (CK19)]. Positive staining rate of sialylated MUC1 and CK19 was significantly higher in patients with WFA-sialylated MUC1 ≥900 than those with WFA-sialylated MUC1 <900. Furthermore, cumulative incidence of HCC recurrence was significantly higher in patients with WFA-sialylated MUC1 ≥900 and on multivariate analysis, serum WFA-sialylated MUC1 levels was an independent predictor of HCC recurrence. These results revealed that serum WFA-sialylated MUC1 was associated with histological feature of HCC and recurrence after curative therapy and it could be a novel marker of HPC/biliary features in HCC and of prognosis.

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Biomarkers / blood*
  • Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / diagnosis*
  • Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / pathology*
  • Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / therapy
  • Female
  • Histocytochemistry
  • Humans
  • Keratin-19 / analysis
  • Liver / pathology
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Mucin-1 / blood*
  • Plant Lectins / blood*
  • Prognosis
  • Receptors, N-Acetylglucosamine / blood*
  • Recurrence
  • Serum / chemistry*

Substances

  • Biomarkers
  • Keratin-19
  • Mucin-1
  • Plant Lectins
  • Receptors, N-Acetylglucosamine
  • wisteria lectin