Heparanase, endo-b-glucuronidase

Heparanase cleaves heparin sulphate at specific sites. Heparan sulphate forms part ofhte extracellular matrix along with collage, laminin and fibronectin. Cleavage of heparan sulphate may be important in tumour invasion and metastasis.

Immunohistochemical expression

Effusion cytology:
breast carcinoma	10/111
lung carcinoma	6/71
gastrointestinal carcinoma	9/91
ovarian carcinoma	7/81
other carcinomas	3/51
carcinomas overall	35/401
reactive mesothelium	negative1
mesothelioma	3/31

Diagnostic utility

There is inadequate evidence as to whether heparanase is useful in the distinction of benign mesothelium from malignant mesothelioma. There are other markers that are much better established for distinguishing carcinoma from mesothelial cells.

References

1 Doviner V, Maly B, Reinhartz T, et al. Heparanase expression: a potential ancillary diagnostic tool for distinguishing between malignant cells and reactive mesothelium in body cavity effusions. Cytopathology 2007; 18:13-9

This page last revised 15.2.2007.