Tissue antigen distribution in hepatocellular carcinoma.
An immunohistochemical study on 63 hepatocellular carcinomas (HCC) was performed for the demonstration of alpha 1-antitrypsin (AAT), alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) and hepatitis B virus (HBV) antigens. AAT and AFP were also investigated in 54 cases of cirrhosis not associated with HCC. AAT was frequently expressed both in HCC (82.5%) and in cirrhosis (53.7%), whereas AFP was present in 41.2% of HCC and never detected in cirrhosis used as controls. These findings suggest that AFP is the more specific antigen for use as a marker of malignant cellular transformation. The HBsAg-positivity in 31.7% of HCC supports the hypothesis of a close link between virus B infection and the tumor.
Busachi
C A
CA
Ferrari
S
S
Ballardini
P L
PL
Landi
P
P
Bazzocchi
F
F
Santini
D
D
Martinelli
G
G
Piccaluga
A
A
Pisi
E
E
D000941:Antigens / Q000032:analysis*; D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000276:immunology*; D006511:Hepatitis B Antigens / Q000032:analysis; D006651:Histocytochemistry; D006801:Humans; D007158:Immunologic Techniques; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000276:immunology*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014018:Tissue Distribution; D000515:alpha 1-Antitrypsin / Q000032:analysis; D000509:alpha-Fetoproteins / Q000032:analysis
D000941:Antigens; D006511:Hepatitis B Antigens; D000515:alpha 1-Antitrypsin; D000509:alpha-Fetoproteins