Importance of β-Catenin and DRP-1 Expression in Hepatocellular Carcinomas

<jats:p xml:lang="en">Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) represents one of the most prevalent primary liver malignancies. The activation of the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway is frequently observed in HCC, contributing to tumor progression. Dynamin-related protein-1 (DRP-1) is involved in apoptosis, tumor metastasis, and suppression of cell adhesion and migration. While DRP-1 and β-catenin have been reported in various tumors, their significance in HCC remains controversial. This study investigates the immunohistochemical (IHC) expression of β-catenin and DRP-1 in HCC. Thirty HCC cases diagnosed within the last 15 years at our institution were included. IHC staining with β-catenin and DRP-1 antibodies was performed on paraffin-embedded tumor and non-tumor tissue samples. Thus, the expressions of these proteins were analyzed. Among 30 cases, 25 had a cirrhotic background, while 5 were non-cirrhotic. IHC analysis revealed membranous β-catenin reactivity in tumor areas in 29 cases, with one case exhibiting both membranous and nuclear reactivity. Weaker immunoreactivity was observed in non-tumoral hepatocytes and biliary epithelium compared to tumor areas. DRP-1 expression was absent in non-tumoral hepatocytes, while cytoplasmic immunoreactivity was statistically strong in 16 cases (53%) (P=0.0008). No correlation was found between nuclear grade, lymphovascular invasion, serum AFP levels, necrosis, survival, and β-catenin or DRP-1 expression (P>0.05). Our findings suggest a potential role for DRP-1 in HCC pathogenesis. While no significant correlation with prognostic parameters was observed in our limited cohort, further multicenter studies with larger, heterogeneous patient groups are warranted.</jats:p>