Diagnostic utility of von Hippel-Lindau gene product, maspin, IMP3, and S100P in adenocarcinoma of the gallbladder

Abstract

Our recent study demonstrated the up-regulation of maspin, IMP3, and S100P and down-regulation of von Hippel-Lindau gene product (pVHL) in ductal adenocarcinoma of the pancreas. Distinction of adenocarcinoma of the gallbladder from benign/reactive glandular epithelium can be challenging if based on hematoxylin and eosin-stained sections alone. Immunohistochemical stains for pVHL, maspin, IMP3, and S100P were performed on 82 gallbladder specimens, including adenocarcinoma (n = 33) and normal/reactive gallbladder (n = 49). The results demonstrated (1) only 6.0% of adenocarcinoma cases were focally positive for pVHL, and all normal and most reactive cases (85%) were diffusely positive for pVHL; (2) maspin, IMP3, and S100P were positive in 100%, 81.8%, and 75.8% of adenocarcinoma cases, respectively; in contrast, 53.1%, 12.2%, and 30.6% of normal/reactive cases were only focally and weakly positive for maspin, IMP3, and S100P, respectively; and (3) 90.3% of adenocarcinoma cases were pVHL-negative and positive for 2 or more positive markers, whereas none of the benign/reactive cases showed this staining profile. This study demonstrates that the immunostaining profile of pVHL-/IMP3+/maspin+/S100P+ is useful in the distinction of adenocarcinoma of the gallbladder from normal/reactive conditions.