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Automated Analysis for the Prevalence of Cancer-Associated Fibroblasts in Resected Specimens of Intrahepatic Cholangiocarcinoma is a Simple and Reliable Evaluation System

  • Hepatobiliary Tumors
  • Published:
Annals of Surgical Oncology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Background

Intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (iCCA) has a high recurrence rate and poor prognosis, and chemotherapy options are limited. The prevalence of cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) in iCCA has recently emerged as a prognostic marker and therapeutic target. A method to quantify the expression of CAFs is needed; however, a simple and reliable quantification method has not yet been established.

Objective

The aim of this study was to establish a simple and reliable method of quantifying CAFs.

Methods

A total of 71 patients with iCCA who underwent curative resection from November 2006 to October 2020 in our hospital were investigated. Immunohistochemistry for alpha-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA) was performed and α-SMA-positive cells were quantified by an automated analysis system (new method) and visually counted (conventional method). The times required for measurement and the prognosis were compared.

Results

The results of the quantification of CAFs by the new method were significantly correlated with the results by the conventional method, and the time required for measurement was significantly shorter with the new method. Patients with high-intensity CAFs showed a significantly poorer prognosis in terms of overall survival (OS) and the cumulative hepatic recurrence rate. In addition, high α-SMA levels were a significant risk factor for OS in multivariate analysis.

Conclusions

This new method may contribute to the management of patients with iCCA, not only for the prediction of prognosis of patients with iCCA, but also for the indication of targeted therapy against CAFs.

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Data availability

The data that support the findings of this study are available from the corresponding author, Shogo Kobayashi, upon reasonable request.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. The Department of Gastroenterological Surgery, Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka University, Suita, Osaka, Japan

    Satoshi Eguchi MD, Daisaku Yamada MD, PhD, Shogo Kobayashi MD, PhD, Kazuki Sasaki MD, PhD, Yoshifumi Iwagami MD, PhD, Yoshito Tomimaru MD, PhD, Takehiro Noda MD, PhD, Hidenori Takahashi MD, PhD, Tadafumi Asaoka MD, PhD, Masahiro Tanemura MD, PhD, Yuichiro Doki MD, PhD & Hidetoshi Eguchi MD, PhD

  2. The Department of Gastroenterological Surgery, Osaka Police Hospital, Tennoji, Osaka, Japan

    Tadafumi Asaoka MD, PhD

  3. The Department of Gastroenterological Surgery, Rinku General Medical Center, Izumisano, Osaka, Japan

    Masahiro Tanemura MD, PhD

Authors
  1. Satoshi Eguchi MD
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  2. Daisaku Yamada MD, PhD
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  3. Shogo Kobayashi MD, PhD
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  4. Kazuki Sasaki MD, PhD
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  5. Yoshifumi Iwagami MD, PhD
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  6. Yoshito Tomimaru MD, PhD
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  7. Takehiro Noda MD, PhD
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  8. Hidenori Takahashi MD, PhD
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  9. Tadafumi Asaoka MD, PhD
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  12. Hidetoshi Eguchi MD, PhD
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Contributions

SE, DY, SK, HT, TN, TA, MT, YD made substantial contributions to the conception and design, acquisition of data, analysis and interpretation of data, drafted the manuscript, and gave final approval of the version to be published. YI made substantial contributions to the conception and design, acquisition of data, revised the manuscript critically for important intellectual content, and gave final approval of the version to be published. YT made substantial contributions to the conception and design, acquisition of data, revised the manuscript critically for important intellectual content, and gave final approval of the version to be published. HE made substantial contributions to the conception and design, analysis and interpretation of data, revised the manuscript critically for important intellectual content, and gave final approval of the version to be published.

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Shogo Kobayashi MD, PhD.

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Eguchi, S., Yamada, D., Kobayashi, S. et al. Automated Analysis for the Prevalence of Cancer-Associated Fibroblasts in Resected Specimens of Intrahepatic Cholangiocarcinoma is a Simple and Reliable Evaluation System. Ann Surg Oncol 30, 5420–5428 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1245/s10434-023-13633-x

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