Immunocytochemical hepatocyte nuclear factor-1β expression in effusions

Abstract

Objective : This study clarifies the usefulness of hepatocyte nuclear factor-1β (HNF-1β) as an immunocytochemical tool for differentiating variable carcinomas in effusions.
Study Design : (1) The optimum HNF-1β staining condition was studied immunocytochemically, and (2) HNF-1β expression was analyzed in 83 cytological specimens of effusions from a variety of carcinoma specimens. Corresponding tissue sections were representative of immunohistochemical studies.
Results : (1) HNF-1β satisfactorily retrieval antigens using pH9.0 citrate buffer and high molecular detection. (2) Positive ratios were as follows : clear cell adenocarcinoma of ovary (CCO) : 100% (4/4) ; adenocarcinoma of the lung (AL) : 27% (4/15) ; and adenocarcinoma of the gastrointestinal tract : 15% (4/27). Positive tumors cells accounted for 46% of all CCO tumor cells and for 44% of those for AL. The coincidence ratio for histological specimens was 100% in CCOs compared to immunohistochemical studies.
Conclusion : HNF-1β is considered sensitive to but not specific for CCO, so it is important to determine immunocytochemical and immunohistochemical expression profiles in carcinomas originating from different organs when using this as a differential surrogate marker.