Four cases of brain metastasis from hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) associated with hepatitis B virus (HBV) are reported in an area not endemic for HBV infection. Two cases are unusual, since cerebral metastases were the only secondary localization. In these cases, no other sites of metastasization were detected either before or immediately following neurosurgical treatment. In all cases the expression of pRB, p53 and p16 tumor suppressor protein was studied with immunohistochemistry, both, in the primary and metastatic lesions. The pRB expression was as follows: in two cases, lack and moderate expression were observed both, in the primary and in the metastases; in the other two, pRB was not detected. In all cases p 53 expression was negative both, in the primary and the metastases. P16 expression was moderately expressed in three cases, both in the primary and the metastases. In one case it was absent. Hepatocarcinogenesis is a multistep process, in which several oncogenes and oncosuppressor genes are involved. In four unusual cases of spread to the brain, we evidenced that tumor suppressor protein expression of p16, p53, and particularly pRB (its aberrated expression is usually associated with metastasis) were altered. We also suggest that HBV and its X protein (HBX) might play an important role in such aggressive behavior of the neoplasia.

Brain metastasis from hepatocellular carcinoma associated with hepatitis B virus / Frati, Alessandro; Salvati, Maurizio; Giarnieri, Enrico; A., Santoro; G., Rocchi; Frati, Luigi. - In: JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL & CLINICAL CANCER RESEARCH. - ISSN 0392-9078. - 21:3(2002), pp. 321-327.

Brain metastasis from hepatocellular carcinoma associated with hepatitis B virus

FRATI, ALESSANDRO;SALVATI, Maurizio;GIARNIERI, Enrico;A. Santoro;FRATI, Luigi
2002

Abstract

Four cases of brain metastasis from hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) associated with hepatitis B virus (HBV) are reported in an area not endemic for HBV infection. Two cases are unusual, since cerebral metastases were the only secondary localization. In these cases, no other sites of metastasization were detected either before or immediately following neurosurgical treatment. In all cases the expression of pRB, p53 and p16 tumor suppressor protein was studied with immunohistochemistry, both, in the primary and metastatic lesions. The pRB expression was as follows: in two cases, lack and moderate expression were observed both, in the primary and in the metastases; in the other two, pRB was not detected. In all cases p 53 expression was negative both, in the primary and the metastases. P16 expression was moderately expressed in three cases, both in the primary and the metastases. In one case it was absent. Hepatocarcinogenesis is a multistep process, in which several oncogenes and oncosuppressor genes are involved. In four unusual cases of spread to the brain, we evidenced that tumor suppressor protein expression of p16, p53, and particularly pRB (its aberrated expression is usually associated with metastasis) were altered. We also suggest that HBV and its X protein (HBX) might play an important role in such aggressive behavior of the neoplasia.
2002
brain metastasis; hepatitis b virus; hepatocellular carcinoma; p16; p53; prb
01 Pubblicazione su rivista::01a Articolo in rivista
Brain metastasis from hepatocellular carcinoma associated with hepatitis B virus / Frati, Alessandro; Salvati, Maurizio; Giarnieri, Enrico; A., Santoro; G., Rocchi; Frati, Luigi. - In: JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL & CLINICAL CANCER RESEARCH. - ISSN 0392-9078. - 21:3(2002), pp. 321-327.
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Utilizza questo identificativo per citare o creare un link a questo documento: https://hdl.handle.net/11573/254724
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