Thirty-five hybridoma cell lines against cytoke-ratins, isolated from Hela cells and human cellus respectively, were generated by fusion of immunized spleen cells of BALB/C mice with P3×63-Ag8.653, a mouse myelom...Thirty-five hybridoma cell lines against cytoke-ratins, isolated from Hela cells and human cellus respectively, were generated by fusion of immunized spleen cells of BALB/C mice with P3×63-Ag8.653, a mouse myeloma cell line. Two of them (HI and C53) were characterized by indirect immu-nofluorescence, ABC immunostaining and immuno-blotting. The results of immunofluorescence and ABC immunostaining suggested that both monoclonal antibodies were specific for keratin-type intermediate filaments. However, the two monoclonal antibodies showed different specificities in normal tissues and neoplasms as observed on both frozen and deparaf-finized sections. In normal tissues, H1 stained transitional epithelium and all types of simple epithelium except endothelium and mesothelium but did not stain stratified squamous epithelium. In contrast, C35 recognized only stratified squamous epithelium, but failing to react with simple epithelium. Both monoclonal antibodies did not react with nonepithelia cells and tissues. In neoplasms, H1 stained varieties of adenocaroinomas and C35 recognized merely squamous cell carcinomas. Therefore, all the epithelial tissues can nearly be recognized by combination of the two monoclonal antibodies. All the results indicated that H1 and C35 can be used in cell biology and histology studies, and can be used in differential diagnosis of adenocarcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma in pathology.展开更多
The histological specificities of 4 monoclonal antibodies against cytokeratins (HK2, HK5, K174 and K27) were investigated in various kinds of human and rat tissues with ABC immunohistochemical technique. K174 was show...The histological specificities of 4 monoclonal antibodies against cytokeratins (HK2, HK5, K174 and K27) were investigated in various kinds of human and rat tissues with ABC immunohistochemical technique. K174 was shown to have the same recognition spectrum with a polyclonal antibody (RAK1) to epidermal keratin. HK2 and HK5 were similar except the difference in reaction with stratified squqmous epithelium. K27 could only label the suprabasal layers of the squamous epithelium, and could be used as a marker of cornified or cornifying epithelium. This study provided a sound basis for the use of this group of antibodies in the subtyping of different epithelial tissues and the tumors originating from them.展开更多
In order to determine the usefulness value of the antibodies to cytokeratins(CK) of'bile duct type'in the differential diagnosis between hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC) and cholangiocellular carcinoma(CC),we hav...In order to determine the usefulness value of the antibodies to cytokeratins(CK) of'bile duct type'in the differential diagnosis between hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC) and cholangiocellular carcinoma(CC),we have made an immunocytochemical investigation,using the antibodies specifically recognizing CK19 and CK18,seperately,in liver,and laminin(LN) antibody.All the CC examined(10 cases) were found CK19-positive;interestingly,CK19-positive cancer cells were also observed in 38% of HCCs(14/37).Therefore,CK19 was not a reliable marker in differentiating HCC from CC,in our consideration.The CK19 expression in HCC was showed to be irrelevant to their differentiation degres,but related to the histologic subtypes which indicated the directions of their differentiation.CK19 expression was observed in all the HCC cell nests with glandular differentiation,and an untontinuous LN-Positive basement membrane-like structure was immunolocalized around these cells.Which indicated that the glandular differentiation and CK19 expression in HCC were also related to the LN deposition,as in fetal liver and some chronic liver disorders.展开更多
AIM: To evaluate the serum levels of cytokeratins and carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) in diagnosis, staging and prognosis of patients with colorectal adenocarcinoma.METHODS: The sample consisted of 169 patients. One hu...AIM: To evaluate the serum levels of cytokeratins and carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) in diagnosis, staging and prognosis of patients with colorectal adenocarcinoma.METHODS: The sample consisted of 169 patients. One hundred blood donors formed the control group. Radical surgery was performed on 120 patients, with an average follow-up duration of 22.3 mo. Relapses occurred in 23individuals after an average of 18.09 mo. CEA was assayed via the Delfia(R) method with a limit of 5 ng/mL. Cytokeratins were assayed via the LIA-mat(R) TPA-M Prolifigen(R) method with a limit of 72 U/L.RESULTS: In the diagnosis of patients with colorectal adenocarcinoma, CEA showed a sensitivity of 56%, a specificity of 95%, a positive predictive value of 94%, a negative predictive value of 50% and an accuracy of 76.8%.TPA-M had a sensitivity of 70%, a specificity of 96%, a positive predictive value of 97%, a negative predictive value of 66% and an accuracy of 93.6%. The elevation of one of the markers was shown to have a sensitivity of 76.9%, a specificity of 91%, a positive predictive value of 93.5%, a negative predictive value of 70% and an accuracy of 83.6%.There was no variation in the levels of the markers according to the degree of cell differentiation while there was an elevation in their concentrations in accordance with the increase in neoplastic dissemination. There was a statistically significant difference between the patients with stage Ⅳ lesions and those with stages Ⅰ, Ⅱ and Ⅲ tumors.With regard to CEA, the averagelevel was 14.2 ng/mL in patients with stage Ⅰ lesions, 8.5 ng/mL in patients with stage Ⅱ lesions, 8.0 ng/mL in patients with stage Ⅲ lesions and 87.7 ng/mL in patients with stage Ⅳ lesions. In relation to TPA-M, the levels were 153.1 U/L in patients with stage Ⅰtumors, 106.5 U/L in patients with stage Ⅱ tumors, 136.3 U/L in patients with stage Ⅲ tumors and 464.3 U/L in patients with stage Ⅳ tumors. There was a statistical difference in patients with a high CEA level in relation to a shorter survival(P<0.05). However, there was no correlation between patients with high TPA-M levels and prognostic indices of patients undergoing radical surgery.CONCLUSION: Cytokeratins demonstrate a greater sensitivity than CEA in the diagnosis of colorectal adenocarcinoma.There is an increase in the sensitivity of the markers with tumor dissemination. Cytokeratins cannot identify the worse prognosis in patients undergoing radical surgery.Cytokeratins constitute an advance in the direction of a perfect tumor marker in the treatment of patients with colorectal cancer.展开更多
The use of three dimensional in vitro systems in cancer research is a promising path for developing effective anticancer therapies.The aim of this study was to engineer a functional 3-D in vitro model of normal and ca...The use of three dimensional in vitro systems in cancer research is a promising path for developing effective anticancer therapies.The aim of this study was to engineer a functional 3-D in vitro model of normal and cancerous cervical tissue.Normal epithelial and immortalized cervical epithelial carcinoma cell lines were used to construct 3-D artificial normal cervical and cervical cancerous tissues.De-epidermised dermis(DED) was used as a scaffold for both models.Morphological analyses were conducted by using hematoxylin and eosin staining and characteristics of the models were studied by analyzing the expression of different structural cytokeratins and differential protein marker MAX dimerisation protein 1(Mad1) using immunohistochemical technique.Haematoxylin and eosin staining results showed that normal cervical tissue had multi epithelial layers while cancerous cervical tissue showed dysplastic changes.Immunohistochemistry staining revealed that for normal cervix model cytokeratin 10 was expressed in the upper stratified layer of the epithelium while cytokeratin 5 was expressed mainly in the middle and basal layer.Cytokeratin 19 was weakly expressed in a few basal cells.Cervical cancer model showed cytokeratin 19 expression in different epithelial layers and weak or no expression for cytokeratin 5 and cytokeratin 10.Madl expression was detected in some suprabasal cells.The 3-D in vitro models showed stratified epithelial layers and expressed the same types and patterns of differentiation marker proteins as seen in corresponding in vivo tissue in either normal cervical or cervical cancerous tissue.These findings imply that they can serve as functional normal and cervical cancer models.展开更多
AIM To efficiently replicate the biology and pathogenesis of human esophageal adenocarcinoma(EAC) using the modified Levrat model of end-to-side esophagojejunostomy. METHODS End-to-side esophagojejunostomy was perform...AIM To efficiently replicate the biology and pathogenesis of human esophageal adenocarcinoma(EAC) using the modified Levrat model of end-to-side esophagojejunostomy. METHODS End-to-side esophagojejunostomy was performed on rats to induce gastroduodenoesophageal reflux to develop EAC. Animals were randomly selected and serially euthanized at 10(n = 6),17(n = 8),24(n = 9),31(n = 6),38(n = 6),and 40(n = 6) wk postoperatively. The esophagi were harvested for downstream histopathology and gene expression. Histological evaluation wascompleted to determine respective rates of carcinogenic development. Quantitative reverse transcriptionpolymerase chain reaction was performed to determine gene expression levels of MUC2,CK19,and CK20,and results were compared to determine significant differences throughout disease progression stages.RESULTS The overall study mortality was 15%. Causes of mortality included anastomotic leak,gastrointestinal hemorrhage,stomach ulcer perforation,respiratory infection secondary to aspiration,and obstruction due to tumor or late anastomotic stricture. 10 wk following surgery,100% of animals presented with esophagitis. Barrett's esophagus(BE) was first observed at 10 wk,and was present in 100% of animals by 17 wk. Dysplasia was confirmed in 87.5% of animals at 17 wk,and increased to 100% by 31 wk. EAC was first observed in 44.4% of animals at 24 wk and increased to 100% by 40 wk. In addition,two animals at 38-40 wk post-surgery had confirmed macro-metastases in the lung/liver and small intestine,respectively. MUC2 gene expression was progressively down-regulated from BE to dysplasia to EAC. Both CK19 and CK20 gene expression significantly increased in a stepwise manner from esophagitis to EAC. CONCLUSION Esophagojejunostomy was successfully replicated in rats with low mortality and a high tumor burden,which may facilitate broader adoption to study EAC development,progression,and therapeutics.展开更多
AIM To evaluate the clinical and prognostic significance of preoperative and postoperative cytokeratin 19(CK19) and carcinoembryonic antigen(CEA) m RNA levels in peripheral blood of patients with gastric cardia cancer...AIM To evaluate the clinical and prognostic significance of preoperative and postoperative cytokeratin 19(CK19) and carcinoembryonic antigen(CEA) m RNA levels in peripheral blood of patients with gastric cardia cancer(GCC).METHODS We detected the preoperative and postoperative mR NA levels of CK19 and CEA in peripheral blood of 129 GCC patients by using reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction and evaluated their clinical and prognostic significance by univariate Kaplan-Meier survival analysis and multivariate Cox proportional hazard analysis. A new prognostic model which stratified patients into three different risk groups was established based on the independent prognostic factors.RESULTS Elevated preoperative and postoperative CK19 and CEA mR NA levels in peripheral blood of GCC patients were associated with lymph node metastasis. Univariate analysis showed that tumor size, histological grade, depth of tumor invasion, lymph node metastasis, preoperative CK19 m RNA, and preoperative and postoperative CEA m RNA levels were correlated with the prognosis of GCC patients. The multivariate analysis showed that lymph node status(P = 0.018), preoperative CK19(P = 0.035) and CEA(P = 0.011) m RNA levels were independent prognostic factors for overall survival(OS). The 5-year OS rates for the low-, intermediate-, and high-risk groups were 48.3%, 22.6%, and 4.6%, respectively(P < 0.001).CONCLUSION Elevated preoperative CK19 and CEA mR NA levels may be regarded as promising biomarkers for predicting lymph node metastasis and poor prognosis in patients with GCC. This new prognostic model may help us identify the subpopulations of GCC patients with the highest risk.展开更多
AIM:To investigate whether expressing biliary phenotype predicted poor outcome after the surgical treatment in primary liver cancers. METHODS:Out of 204 patients that underwent liver resection due to hepatocellular ca...AIM:To investigate whether expressing biliary phenotype predicted poor outcome after the surgical treatment in primary liver cancers. METHODS:Out of 204 patients that underwent liver resection due to hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), liver specimens of 70 patients with HCC were evaluated for biliary components by cytokeratin (CK) 19 immunostain (CK19 - HCC and CK19 + HCC). CK19 positivity was defined as membranous and/or cytoplasmic expression in ≥ 5% of tumor cells with moderate or strong intensity. Patients with other primary liver cancers, such as com- bined HCC and cholangiocarcinoma (cHCC-CC), intrahe- patic cholangiocarcinoma (ICC) who received curative liver resection, were also included in the study. Clinical characteristics of CK19-HCC and CK19 + HCC patients, including survival outcome after curative liver resection, were compared with that of cHCC-CC and ICC patients. RESULTS: The overall survival (OS) rate of CK19 - HCC(n = 49) after the curative surgical treatment was 90.7%, and 80.4% at 1 and 5 years after the resection. OS rate of CK19 + HCC (n = 21) was 74.3%, 28.9% and OS rate of cHCC-CC (n = 22) was 66.7%, 32.2% at 1 and 5 years after the surgery. For ICC (n = 19), 1 and 5-year-OS rate was 50.2% and 14.3% after the cura-tive resection. The OS rates of CK19 + HCC and cHCC-CC were significantly lower than that of CK19-HCC, but higher than the OS rate of ICC (P = 0.000). There was no statistically significant difference in OS rate between CK19 + HCC and cHCC-CC. The disease free survival (DFS) rate of CK19-HCC was 72.0% and 54.5% at 1 and 3 years after the surgical treatment. DFS rate of CK19 + HCC was 53.3%, 34.3% and DFS rate of cHCC- CC was 51.5%, 39.2% at 1 and 3 years after the resection. For ICC, 1 and 3-year-DFS rate was 28.0% and 14.0% after the curative resection. DFS rate of CK19-HCC was significantly higher than that of ICC (P = 0.017), but marginally higher than DFS rate of either CK19 + HCC or cHCC-CC (P = 0.097, P = 0.089, respec-tively). Predictors of outcome after the surgery of primary liver cancer were pathology of the resected mass, existence of microvascular invasion and accompanying satellite nodule. CONCLUSION: Primary liver cancers with biliary components tended to show poorer surgical outcome. This suggested that immuno-phenotype of liver cancers was as important as their morphological classification.展开更多
文摘Thirty-five hybridoma cell lines against cytoke-ratins, isolated from Hela cells and human cellus respectively, were generated by fusion of immunized spleen cells of BALB/C mice with P3×63-Ag8.653, a mouse myeloma cell line. Two of them (HI and C53) were characterized by indirect immu-nofluorescence, ABC immunostaining and immuno-blotting. The results of immunofluorescence and ABC immunostaining suggested that both monoclonal antibodies were specific for keratin-type intermediate filaments. However, the two monoclonal antibodies showed different specificities in normal tissues and neoplasms as observed on both frozen and deparaf-finized sections. In normal tissues, H1 stained transitional epithelium and all types of simple epithelium except endothelium and mesothelium but did not stain stratified squamous epithelium. In contrast, C35 recognized only stratified squamous epithelium, but failing to react with simple epithelium. Both monoclonal antibodies did not react with nonepithelia cells and tissues. In neoplasms, H1 stained varieties of adenocaroinomas and C35 recognized merely squamous cell carcinomas. Therefore, all the epithelial tissues can nearly be recognized by combination of the two monoclonal antibodies. All the results indicated that H1 and C35 can be used in cell biology and histology studies, and can be used in differential diagnosis of adenocarcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma in pathology.
文摘The histological specificities of 4 monoclonal antibodies against cytokeratins (HK2, HK5, K174 and K27) were investigated in various kinds of human and rat tissues with ABC immunohistochemical technique. K174 was shown to have the same recognition spectrum with a polyclonal antibody (RAK1) to epidermal keratin. HK2 and HK5 were similar except the difference in reaction with stratified squqmous epithelium. K27 could only label the suprabasal layers of the squamous epithelium, and could be used as a marker of cornified or cornifying epithelium. This study provided a sound basis for the use of this group of antibodies in the subtyping of different epithelial tissues and the tumors originating from them.
文摘In order to determine the usefulness value of the antibodies to cytokeratins(CK) of'bile duct type'in the differential diagnosis between hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC) and cholangiocellular carcinoma(CC),we have made an immunocytochemical investigation,using the antibodies specifically recognizing CK19 and CK18,seperately,in liver,and laminin(LN) antibody.All the CC examined(10 cases) were found CK19-positive;interestingly,CK19-positive cancer cells were also observed in 38% of HCCs(14/37).Therefore,CK19 was not a reliable marker in differentiating HCC from CC,in our consideration.The CK19 expression in HCC was showed to be irrelevant to their differentiation degres,but related to the histologic subtypes which indicated the directions of their differentiation.CK19 expression was observed in all the HCC cell nests with glandular differentiation,and an untontinuous LN-Positive basement membrane-like structure was immunolocalized around these cells.Which indicated that the glandular differentiation and CK19 expression in HCC were also related to the LN deposition,as in fetal liver and some chronic liver disorders.
基金Supported by Foundation for Research Support of the State of Sao Paulo
文摘AIM: To evaluate the serum levels of cytokeratins and carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) in diagnosis, staging and prognosis of patients with colorectal adenocarcinoma.METHODS: The sample consisted of 169 patients. One hundred blood donors formed the control group. Radical surgery was performed on 120 patients, with an average follow-up duration of 22.3 mo. Relapses occurred in 23individuals after an average of 18.09 mo. CEA was assayed via the Delfia(R) method with a limit of 5 ng/mL. Cytokeratins were assayed via the LIA-mat(R) TPA-M Prolifigen(R) method with a limit of 72 U/L.RESULTS: In the diagnosis of patients with colorectal adenocarcinoma, CEA showed a sensitivity of 56%, a specificity of 95%, a positive predictive value of 94%, a negative predictive value of 50% and an accuracy of 76.8%.TPA-M had a sensitivity of 70%, a specificity of 96%, a positive predictive value of 97%, a negative predictive value of 66% and an accuracy of 93.6%. The elevation of one of the markers was shown to have a sensitivity of 76.9%, a specificity of 91%, a positive predictive value of 93.5%, a negative predictive value of 70% and an accuracy of 83.6%.There was no variation in the levels of the markers according to the degree of cell differentiation while there was an elevation in their concentrations in accordance with the increase in neoplastic dissemination. There was a statistically significant difference between the patients with stage Ⅳ lesions and those with stages Ⅰ, Ⅱ and Ⅲ tumors.With regard to CEA, the averagelevel was 14.2 ng/mL in patients with stage Ⅰ lesions, 8.5 ng/mL in patients with stage Ⅱ lesions, 8.0 ng/mL in patients with stage Ⅲ lesions and 87.7 ng/mL in patients with stage Ⅳ lesions. In relation to TPA-M, the levels were 153.1 U/L in patients with stage Ⅰtumors, 106.5 U/L in patients with stage Ⅱ tumors, 136.3 U/L in patients with stage Ⅲ tumors and 464.3 U/L in patients with stage Ⅳ tumors. There was a statistical difference in patients with a high CEA level in relation to a shorter survival(P<0.05). However, there was no correlation between patients with high TPA-M levels and prognostic indices of patients undergoing radical surgery.CONCLUSION: Cytokeratins demonstrate a greater sensitivity than CEA in the diagnosis of colorectal adenocarcinoma.There is an increase in the sensitivity of the markers with tumor dissemination. Cytokeratins cannot identify the worse prognosis in patients undergoing radical surgery.Cytokeratins constitute an advance in the direction of a perfect tumor marker in the treatment of patients with colorectal cancer.
基金supported by the Middlesex University,particularly in the award of a Postgraduate Research Studentship that provided the necessary financial support for this research
文摘The use of three dimensional in vitro systems in cancer research is a promising path for developing effective anticancer therapies.The aim of this study was to engineer a functional 3-D in vitro model of normal and cancerous cervical tissue.Normal epithelial and immortalized cervical epithelial carcinoma cell lines were used to construct 3-D artificial normal cervical and cervical cancerous tissues.De-epidermised dermis(DED) was used as a scaffold for both models.Morphological analyses were conducted by using hematoxylin and eosin staining and characteristics of the models were studied by analyzing the expression of different structural cytokeratins and differential protein marker MAX dimerisation protein 1(Mad1) using immunohistochemical technique.Haematoxylin and eosin staining results showed that normal cervical tissue had multi epithelial layers while cancerous cervical tissue showed dysplastic changes.Immunohistochemistry staining revealed that for normal cervix model cytokeratin 10 was expressed in the upper stratified layer of the epithelium while cytokeratin 5 was expressed mainly in the middle and basal layer.Cytokeratin 19 was weakly expressed in a few basal cells.Cervical cancer model showed cytokeratin 19 expression in different epithelial layers and weak or no expression for cytokeratin 5 and cytokeratin 10.Madl expression was detected in some suprabasal cells.The 3-D in vitro models showed stratified epithelial layers and expressed the same types and patterns of differentiation marker proteins as seen in corresponding in vivo tissue in either normal cervical or cervical cancerous tissue.These findings imply that they can serve as functional normal and cervical cancer models.
基金Samantha Martin for providing statistical support
文摘AIM To efficiently replicate the biology and pathogenesis of human esophageal adenocarcinoma(EAC) using the modified Levrat model of end-to-side esophagojejunostomy. METHODS End-to-side esophagojejunostomy was performed on rats to induce gastroduodenoesophageal reflux to develop EAC. Animals were randomly selected and serially euthanized at 10(n = 6),17(n = 8),24(n = 9),31(n = 6),38(n = 6),and 40(n = 6) wk postoperatively. The esophagi were harvested for downstream histopathology and gene expression. Histological evaluation wascompleted to determine respective rates of carcinogenic development. Quantitative reverse transcriptionpolymerase chain reaction was performed to determine gene expression levels of MUC2,CK19,and CK20,and results were compared to determine significant differences throughout disease progression stages.RESULTS The overall study mortality was 15%. Causes of mortality included anastomotic leak,gastrointestinal hemorrhage,stomach ulcer perforation,respiratory infection secondary to aspiration,and obstruction due to tumor or late anastomotic stricture. 10 wk following surgery,100% of animals presented with esophagitis. Barrett's esophagus(BE) was first observed at 10 wk,and was present in 100% of animals by 17 wk. Dysplasia was confirmed in 87.5% of animals at 17 wk,and increased to 100% by 31 wk. EAC was first observed in 44.4% of animals at 24 wk and increased to 100% by 40 wk. In addition,two animals at 38-40 wk post-surgery had confirmed macro-metastases in the lung/liver and small intestine,respectively. MUC2 gene expression was progressively down-regulated from BE to dysplasia to EAC. Both CK19 and CK20 gene expression significantly increased in a stepwise manner from esophagitis to EAC. CONCLUSION Esophagojejunostomy was successfully replicated in rats with low mortality and a high tumor burden,which may facilitate broader adoption to study EAC development,progression,and therapeutics.
基金Supported by the National Key Clinical Specialist Construction Programs of China,No.2013-544Science and Technology Development Fund of Tianjin Education Commission for Higher Education,No.20130121Science Foundation of Tianjin Medical University,No.2016KYZM03
文摘AIM To evaluate the clinical and prognostic significance of preoperative and postoperative cytokeratin 19(CK19) and carcinoembryonic antigen(CEA) m RNA levels in peripheral blood of patients with gastric cardia cancer(GCC).METHODS We detected the preoperative and postoperative mR NA levels of CK19 and CEA in peripheral blood of 129 GCC patients by using reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction and evaluated their clinical and prognostic significance by univariate Kaplan-Meier survival analysis and multivariate Cox proportional hazard analysis. A new prognostic model which stratified patients into three different risk groups was established based on the independent prognostic factors.RESULTS Elevated preoperative and postoperative CK19 and CEA mR NA levels in peripheral blood of GCC patients were associated with lymph node metastasis. Univariate analysis showed that tumor size, histological grade, depth of tumor invasion, lymph node metastasis, preoperative CK19 m RNA, and preoperative and postoperative CEA m RNA levels were correlated with the prognosis of GCC patients. The multivariate analysis showed that lymph node status(P = 0.018), preoperative CK19(P = 0.035) and CEA(P = 0.011) m RNA levels were independent prognostic factors for overall survival(OS). The 5-year OS rates for the low-, intermediate-, and high-risk groups were 48.3%, 22.6%, and 4.6%, respectively(P < 0.001).CONCLUSION Elevated preoperative CK19 and CEA mR NA levels may be regarded as promising biomarkers for predicting lymph node metastasis and poor prognosis in patients with GCC. This new prognostic model may help us identify the subpopulations of GCC patients with the highest risk.
文摘AIM:To investigate whether expressing biliary phenotype predicted poor outcome after the surgical treatment in primary liver cancers. METHODS:Out of 204 patients that underwent liver resection due to hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), liver specimens of 70 patients with HCC were evaluated for biliary components by cytokeratin (CK) 19 immunostain (CK19 - HCC and CK19 + HCC). CK19 positivity was defined as membranous and/or cytoplasmic expression in ≥ 5% of tumor cells with moderate or strong intensity. Patients with other primary liver cancers, such as com- bined HCC and cholangiocarcinoma (cHCC-CC), intrahe- patic cholangiocarcinoma (ICC) who received curative liver resection, were also included in the study. Clinical characteristics of CK19-HCC and CK19 + HCC patients, including survival outcome after curative liver resection, were compared with that of cHCC-CC and ICC patients. RESULTS: The overall survival (OS) rate of CK19 - HCC(n = 49) after the curative surgical treatment was 90.7%, and 80.4% at 1 and 5 years after the resection. OS rate of CK19 + HCC (n = 21) was 74.3%, 28.9% and OS rate of cHCC-CC (n = 22) was 66.7%, 32.2% at 1 and 5 years after the surgery. For ICC (n = 19), 1 and 5-year-OS rate was 50.2% and 14.3% after the cura-tive resection. The OS rates of CK19 + HCC and cHCC-CC were significantly lower than that of CK19-HCC, but higher than the OS rate of ICC (P = 0.000). There was no statistically significant difference in OS rate between CK19 + HCC and cHCC-CC. The disease free survival (DFS) rate of CK19-HCC was 72.0% and 54.5% at 1 and 3 years after the surgical treatment. DFS rate of CK19 + HCC was 53.3%, 34.3% and DFS rate of cHCC- CC was 51.5%, 39.2% at 1 and 3 years after the resection. For ICC, 1 and 3-year-DFS rate was 28.0% and 14.0% after the curative resection. DFS rate of CK19-HCC was significantly higher than that of ICC (P = 0.017), but marginally higher than DFS rate of either CK19 + HCC or cHCC-CC (P = 0.097, P = 0.089, respec-tively). Predictors of outcome after the surgery of primary liver cancer were pathology of the resected mass, existence of microvascular invasion and accompanying satellite nodule. CONCLUSION: Primary liver cancers with biliary components tended to show poorer surgical outcome. This suggested that immuno-phenotype of liver cancers was as important as their morphological classification.