Hepatocyte nuclear factor‐1β is not a specific marker of clear cell carcinoma in serous effusions

Abstract

BACKGROUND The transcription factor hepatocyte nuclear factor‐1β (HNF1β) has been reported to be a specific clear cell carcinoma marker, but its role in the diagnosis of serous effusions is largely unexplored. The objective of this study was to assess the diagnostic role of 2 commercial antibodies against HNF1β in effusion specimens. METHODS Effusions (n = 101), consisting of 43 ovarian adenocarcinomas (26 serous, 14 clear cell, 3 endometrioid), 37 nonovarian adenocarcinomas, 10 malignant mesotheliomas, 2 nonepithelial cancers, and 9 reactive specimens, were immunostained using antibodies from Santa Cruz Biotechnology Inc (Santa Cruz, Calif) and Atlas Antibodies AB (Stockholm, Sweden). RESULTS Use of the Santa Cruz antibody was associated with cytoplasmic or background staining in some specimens, whereas distinct staining with minimal background was observed using the Atlas antibody. The Santa Cruz antibody performed better in differentiating clear cell carcinoma from serous ovarian carcinoma and breast carcinoma, whereas staining was consistently negative in benign and malignant mesotheliomas using both antibodies. Distinct nuclear expression of HNF1β was observed in lung and gastrointestinal carcinomas, most often using the Atlas antibody. CONCLUSIONS The HNF1β antibody from Atlas performed better than its counterpart from Santa Cruz in terms of staining quality, but was less specific for clear cell carcinoma. Although HNF1β may be of diagnostic value in differentiating clear cell from serous carcinoma in cases with proven genital origin, the role of this marker is questionable in the differential diagnosis between the former tumors and adenocarcinomas of other origin, particularly in the setting of metastasis from an unknown primary tumor. Cancer (Cancer Cytopathol) 2014;122:153–8. © 2013 American Cancer Society.

Hepatocyte nuclear factor 1 beta: A perspective in cancer

“…127 Davidson et al advocated the central part of HNF1B marker in serous effusion diagnosis, with the data suggesting HNF1B to be an important biomarker which may differentiate CCC from serous ovarian carcinoma and cells of mesothelial origin. 128 In a nutshell, a wide array of expression changes in different cancers and its subtypes does point towards the role of this gene as a potential biomarker. However, even after identifying its involvement in development and progression to tumour relapse, the details about the regulatory pathways still are missing, further studies which highlight these missing links can help in finally helping the potential of HNF1B to become a biomarker in different cancers.…”

“…One of the studies described HNF1B as a biomarker in distinguishing clear cell adenocarcinomas of the bladder/urethra besides other primary tumours of the urinary bladder, specifically aggressive urothelial tumour with clear cell change 127 . Davidson et al advocated the central part of HNF1B marker in serous effusion diagnosis, with the data suggesting HNF1B to be an important biomarker which may differentiate CCC from serous ovarian carcinoma and cells of mesothelial origin 128 …”

Ovarian Adenocarcinoma with Serous Effusions Appeared after a Mammary Adenocarcinoma: A Case Report

“…Transcriptional factor hepatocyte nuclear factor-1(sup), present in serous effusions, may serve to distinguish between clear cells of serous ovarian carcinoma and those of breast carcinoma. Its role in the differential diagnosis between ovarian carcinomas and adenocarcinomas with another origin is contestable [4].…”