Prognostic roles of pathology markers immunoexpression and clinical parameters in Hepatoblastoma

Background: hepatoblastoma,a leading primary hepatic malignant tumor in children,is originated from primitive hepatic stem cells. we aimed to elucidate the relationships between the histological distribution of β-catenin and hepatic stem cell markers with the clinical outcomes of hepatoblastoma. methods: immunohistochemistry was applied to detect β-catenin and hepatic stem cell markers expression in 31 hepatoblastoma tumors. we analyzed the relationship between the stem cell markers and the clinical course of hepatoblastoma. results: thirty-one hepatoblastoma patients were diagnosed at a mean age of 2.58 ± 3.78 years,and 7 (22.58%) died. a lack of anticipated decrease in alpha-fetal protein levels after neoadjuvant chemotherapy indicated a higher mortality rate. nuclear β-catenin expression was significantly associated with membranous epithelial cell adhesion molecule (epcam) expression in hepatoblastoma tumor specimens. the co-expression of nuclear β-catenin and membranous epcam together with an age at diagnosis ≤1.25 years were predictive of an alpha-fetoprotein level < 1200 ng/ml after neoadjuvant chemotherapy (p < 0.05). an alpha-fetoprotein level < 1200 ng/ml after neoadjuvant chemotherapy and age at hepatoblastoma diagnosis ≤1.25 years are both predictors of better overall and native liver survival in hepatoblastoma patients. conclusions: presence of membranous epcam with nuclear β-catenin and younger diagnostic age of hepatoblastoma are predictive of serum alpha-fetoprotein levels drop after chemotherapy. younger diagnostic age and lower alpha-fetoprotein levels after neoadjuvant chemotherapy and are predictive of better overall and native liver survival in hepatoblastoma patients. © 2017 the author(s).