Skip to main page content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation
. 2005 Oct;58(10):1069-75.
doi: 10.1136/jcp.2005.026328.

Canalicular immunostaining of aminopeptidase N (CD13) as a diagnostic marker for hepatocellular carcinoma

C Röcken  1 , J Licht, A Roessner, S Carl-McGrath
Affiliations

Canalicular immunostaining of aminopeptidase N (CD13) as a diagnostic marker for hepatocellular carcinoma

C Röcken et al. J Clin Pathol. 2005 Oct.

Abstract

Background: Aminopeptidase N (CD13) is expressed in normal and neoplastic liver tissue, where it exhibits a characteristic canalicular pattern (CD13(can)), similar to that seen for CD10 and when antibodies crossreact with biliary glycoprotein I (p-CEA).

Aim: To compare the putative diagnostic use of CD13(can) in differentiating between hepatocellular (HCC) and non-hepatocellular carcinomas metastatic to the liver (non-HCC).

Methods: A retrospective study comparing 53 HCC specimens with 32 non-HCC specimens. Immunostaining was performed with HepPar1 and antibodies directed against CD10, CD13, p-CEA, and alpha fetoprotein (AFP).

Results: In the HCC group, a canalicular staining pattern was found for CD13, p-CEA, and CD10 in 51, 43, and 33 specimens, respectively. HepPar1 was positive in 29 and AFP in 17 HCC specimens. In the non-HCC group, canalicular immunostaining for CD10 and p-CEA was confined to non-neoplastic liver tissue. One poorly differentiated cholangiocarcinoma showed apical expression of CD13, resembling to some extent CD13(can). Sensitivity and specificity were 96.2% and 97.0%, respectively, for CD13(can), 81.1% and 100% for p-CEA(can), 62.3% and 100%, for CD10(can), 54.7% and 99.9% for HepPar1, and 32.1% and 100% for AFP.

Conclusions: These results show that CD13(can) is more sensitive in differentiating between HCC and non-HCC than CD10(can), p-CEA(can), HepPar1, and AFP.

PubMed Disclaimer

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
(A) A moderately differentiated hepatocellular carcinoma showing canalicular expression of (B) CD13 (aminopeptidase N), (C) p-CEA (antibody that crossreacts with biliary glycoprotein I), and (D, arrowheads) CD10, and cytoplasmic staining with (E) HepPar1 and (F) anti-AFP (α fetoprotein). (D, insert) Additional strong membranous expression was seen for CD10. (A) Haematoxylin and eosin; (B) anti-CD13, (C) anti-p-CEA, (D) anti-CD10, (E) HepPar1, and (F) anti-AFP, all with haematoxylin counterstain; original magnifications, ×400.
Figure 2
Figure 2
(A) Non-neoplastic liver tissue showing canalicular immunostaining with (B) anti-CD13 (aminopeptidase N), (C) anti-p-CEA (antibody that crossreacts with biliary glycoprotein I), and (D) anti-CD10. Bile ducts express CD10 and CD13 at the apical membrane (B and D; arrowheads). (A) Haematoxylin and eosin; (B) anti-CD13, (C) anti-p-CEA, and (D) anti-CD10, all with haematoxylin counterstain; original magnifications, ×400.
Figure 3
Figure 3
Immunohistochemical expression profile of 53 hepatocellular carcinomas (HCCs) for CD13 (aminopeptidase N), p-CEA (antibody that crossreacts with biliary glycoprotein I), CD10, HepPar1, and AFP (α fetoprotein). Each column represents an individual biopsy sample from an HCC. Black squares denote positive canalicular immunostaining for CD13 (CD13can), p-CEA (p-CEAcan), and CD10 (CD10can), and cytoplasmic or membranous immunostaining with HepPar1 and for AFP, respectively; open squares denote no immunoreactivity in the tumour cells.
Figure 4
Figure 4
(A) A cholangiocarcinoma shows apical membranous expression of (B) CD13, resembling to some extent canalicular expression of hepatocytes. (D) Cytoplasmic HepPar1 immunostaining was found in another (C) cholangiocarcinoma. (A, C) Haematoxylin and eosin; (B) anti-CD13, (D) HepPar1, both with haematoxylin counterstain; original magnifications, ×400.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

References

    1. D’Errico A, Baccarini P, Fiorentino M, et al. Histogenesis of primary liver carcinomas: strengths and weaknesses of cytokeratin profile and albumin mRNA detection. Hum Pathol 1996;27:599–604. - PubMed
    1. Hurlimann J, Gardiol D. Immunohistochemistry in the differential diagnosis of liver carcinomas. Am J Surg Pathol 1991;15:280–8. - PubMed
    1. Ma CK, Zarbo RJ, Frierson HF Jr, et al. Comparative immunohistochemical study of primary and metastatic carcinomas of the liver. Am J Clin Pathol 1993;99:551–7. - PubMed
    1. Koelma IA, Nap M, Huitema S, et al. Hepatocellular carcinoma, adenoma, and focal nodular hyperplasia. Comparative histopathologic study with immunohistochemical parameters. Arch Pathol Lab Med 1986;110:1035–40. - PubMed
    1. Wong MA, Yazdi HM. Hepatocellular carcinoma versus carcinoma metastatic to the liver. Value of stains for carcinoembryonic antigen and naphthylamidase in fine needle aspiration biopsy material. Acta Cytol 1990;34:192–6. - PubMed

MeSH terms