Identification of hepatic stem/progenitor cells in canine hepatocellular and cholangiocellular carcinoma

Vet Comp Oncol. 2010 Jun;8(2):112-21. doi: 10.1111/j.1476-5829.2010.00210.x.

Abstract

Hepatic progenitor cells (HPCs) are bipotential stem cells residing in human and animal livers that are able to differentiate towards the hepatocytic or cholangiocytic lineages. HPCs are present in both hepatocellular (HCC) and cholangiocellular carcinoma (CC) in humans; and a small percentage of HCC can originate from cancer stem cells. However, its distribution in canine liver tumour has not been studied. Herein, we searched for stem/progenitor cells in 13 HCC and 7 CC archived samples by immunohistochemical analysis. We found that both liver tumours presented a higher amount of K19-positive HPCs. Besides, 61.6% of HCC cases presented immature CD44-positive hepatocytes. Nevertheless, only two cases presented CD133-positive cells. As observed in humans, hepatic canine tumours presented activated HPCs, with important differentiation onto hepatocytes-like cells and minimal role of cancer stem cells on HCC. These findings reiterate the applicability of canine model in the search for new therapies before application in humans.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • AC133 Antigen
  • Animals
  • Antigens, CD / immunology
  • Bile Duct Neoplasms / pathology
  • Bile Duct Neoplasms / veterinary*
  • Bile Ducts, Intrahepatic* / pathology
  • Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / veterinary*
  • Cell Transformation, Neoplastic / pathology
  • Cholangiocarcinoma / pathology
  • Cholangiocarcinoma / veterinary*
  • Disease Models, Animal
  • Dog Diseases / pathology*
  • Dogs
  • Glycoproteins / immunology
  • Humans
  • Hyaluronan Receptors / immunology
  • Keratin-19 / immunology
  • Liver Neoplasms / pathology
  • Liver Neoplasms / veterinary*
  • Peptides / immunology
  • Proliferating Cell Nuclear Antigen / metabolism
  • Stem Cells / pathology*

Substances

  • AC133 Antigen
  • Antigens, CD
  • Glycoproteins
  • Hyaluronan Receptors
  • Keratin-19
  • PROM1 protein, human
  • Peptides
  • Proliferating Cell Nuclear Antigen