Expression of the type 3 inositol 1, 4, 5-trisphosphate receptor according to the chronic liver disease etiology in hepatocellular carcinoma.

Abstract

e16604 Background: The expression of type 3 isoform of the inositol 1, 4, 5-trisphosphate receptor (ITPR-3), an intracellular calcium (Ca2+) channel reported in liver cancer cells, is important in the Ca2+ signalling. Thus, it may be involved in the many events of hepatocarcinogenesis. Here, we investigated the ITPR-3 expression in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and its association with clinicopathological parameters and long-term outcomes, according to the etiology of underlying chronic liver disease (CLD). Methods: Clinical and laboratory data from patients (n = 53) who underwent orthotopic liver transplantation for HCC treatment in a Brazilian referral center were retrospectively collected. After pathological reviewing of their explanted liver samples, ITPR-3 expression in both tumor and underlying cirrhosis were assessed by immunohistochemistry, and quantified using density histograms in the ImageJ software. Event (tumor recurrence or death from any cause) occurrence and event-free survival (EFS) were analysed. Results: Hepatitis C virus (HCV) (n = 31), alcohol abuse (n = 16) and cryptogenic cirrhosis (n = 6) were the underlying CLD etiology, and the groups were, in general, well balanced regarding clinicopathological indices. Median EFS was 78.9 months (range, 63.6-94.1). The ITPR-3 expression profile was cytoplasmatic, predominantly perinuclear, and was stronger in tumor than in adjacent cirrhosis, considering all etiologies together (intensity 9.1% higher in tumors, p < 0.001) However, analyzing each etiologic group, the cryptogenic was the only one in which there was no difference between tumor and underlying CLD. Comparing the ITPR-3 expression only in tumors, there was no difference regarding the etiology of CLD. The tumor ITPR-3 higher intensity was correlated with higher serum aspartate alanine-transferases (ALT) levels (p = 0.018) and lower mitotic index ( < 5 per 10 high power fields) (p = 0.009). There was no association between receptor expression and event occurrence or EFS. Conclusions: The ITPR-3 was expressed in HCC, regardless of the underlying CLD etiology. Its correlation with mitotic index, a cell proliferation marker, was demonstrated, but there were no associations with clinical outcomes. Apart from cryptogenic cirrhosis, ITPR-3 expression was more intense in tumors than in underlying cirrhosis. These findings suggest that ITPR-3 could have a role in carcinogenesis. However, the prognostic and therapeutic implications need to be investigated.