Hepatocellular oncofetal protein, glypican 3 is a sensitive marker for α-fetoprotein-producing gastric carcinoma

• Published in: Histopathology Vol. 49; no. 5; pp. 479 - 486
• Main Authors: Hishinuma, M, Ohashi, K-I, Yamauchi, N, Kashima, T, Uozaki, H, Ota, S, Kodama, T, Aburatani, H, Fukayama, M
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Oxford, UK Blackwell Publishing Ltd 01.11.2006; Blackwell
• Subjects: Adenocarcinoma - metabolism; Adenocarcinoma - pathology; Adult; AFP; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; alpha-Fetoproteins - metabolism; Biological and medical sciences; Biomarkers, Tumor - metabolism; Female; gastric carcinoma; Gastroenterology. Liver. Pancreas. Abdomen; glypican 3; Glypicans - metabolism; hepatoid adenocarcinoma; Humans; Immunohistochemistry; Investigative techniques, diagnostic techniques (general aspects); Male; Medical sciences; Middle Aged; Pathology. Cytology. Biochemistry. Spectrometry. Miscellaneous investigative techniques; Stomach Neoplasms - metabolism; Stomach Neoplasms - pathology; Stomach. Duodenum. Small intestine. Colon. Rectum. Anus; Tissue Array Analysis; Tumors; Adenocarcinoma; Immunohistochemistry; Proteoglycan; Tumor associated antigen; Glypican 3; Oncofetal antigen; Biological marker; Tumoral marker; Malignant tumor; AFP; α-Fetoprotein; Stomach cancer; Stomach carcinoma; Anatomic pathology; Digestive diseases; gastric carcinoma; hepatoid adenocarcinoma; Gastric disease
• ISSN: 0309-0167; 1365-2559
• DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-2559.2006.02522.x

Aims Glypican 3 (GPC3) is a cell surface heparan sulphate proteoglycan expressed specifically in the fetal liver and malignant neoplasms of hepatocyte lineage. The aim was to evaluate the significance of GPC3 in α‐fetoprotein (AFP)‐producing gastric carcinoma (GC) and other forms of GC. Methods and results We immunohistochemically evaluated GPC3 expression in representative cases of AFP‐producing GC and in a tissue microarray of a consecutive series of GCs with other markers of hepatocyte lineage (AFP, PIVKA‐II and hepatocyte antigen, HEP). In a series of 10 cases of AFP‐producing GC, we observed immunohistochemical positivity for GPC3, PIVKA‐II and HEP in 10, three and three cases in components with a hepatoid pattern and in nine, two and five cases in components with a non‐hepatoid pattern, respectively. In a series of 118 cases of GC, we observed positivity for AFP, GPC3, PIVKA‐II and HEP in one (0.8%), four (3.4%), six (5.1%) and 26 cases (22%), respectively. GPC3 was observed concurrently with AFP and discordantly with PIVKA‐II and HEP. GPC3 positivity was clearly stronger in a larger area compared with immunoreactivity for AFP. Conclusions GPC3 is a sensitive marker for AFP‐producing GC and its hepatoid component and is therefore useful to identify this aggressive subgroup of GC.