Twisted gastrulation expression in cholangiocellular and hepatocellular carcinoma

Aims To assess the expression of Twisted gastrulation (TWSG1) protein, which regulates the activity of bone morphogenetic proteins (BMPs) in the extracellular space in malignant epithelial tumours of the liver. Methods Thirteen hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) samples and 12 intrahepatic cholangiocellular carcinoma (CCA) samples were compiled into diagnosis-specific tissue microarrays. Sections were immunostained with a monoclonal antibody against TWSG1 and a polyclonal antibody against BMP4. Human cell lines were also used, including one HCC cell line (HepG2), three CCA cell lines (OZ, Huh-28, HuCCT-1) and a Papova-immortalised normal hepatocyte cell line (THLE-3) for western blot analysis (WBA). Results Immunostaining and WBA showed a stronger TWSG1 expression in CCA than in HCC. The difference in expression was significant (p Conclusions TWSG1 is expressed in both malignant epithelial carcinomas, although the level of expression is higher in CCA than in HCC and seems to correlate at least partially with BMP4 expression.