PT  - JOURNAL ARTICLE
AU  - Kudo, H
AU  - Ohshio, G
AU  - Ogawa, K
AU  - Kim, Y C
AU  - Wakatsuki, Y
AU  - Nakashima, Y
AU  - Yamabe, H
AU  - Inada, M
TI  - Distribution of vitamin B12 R-binder in carcinomas of the digestive tract.
AID  - 10.1136/jcp.41.3.320
DP  - 1988 Mar 01
TA  - Journal of Clinical Pathology
PG  - 320--323
VI  - 41
IP  - 3
4099  - http://jcp.bmj.com/content/41/3/320.short
4100  - http://jcp.bmj.com/content/41/3/320.full
SO  - J Clin Pathol1988 Mar 01; 41
AB  - To evaluate whether the increase in serum transcobalamin I, seen in patients with carcinoma, is caused by synthesis of R-binder to tumour cells, the distribution of vitamin B12 R-binder in 125 malignant growths of the digestive tract was studied. Positive staining for R-binder with immunoperoxidase was observed in 85 (70%) carcinomas. Positive staining for R-binder was observed in all four cholangiocarcinomas studied, but was absent in nine hepatocellular carcinomas. These findings suggest that determination of R-binder in liver tumours may be of some value in differentiating hepatocellular carcinomas and cholangiocarcinoma, and that synthesis of R-binder by tumour cells causes an increase in serum transcobalamin I.