title: Tissue copper content in primary and metastatic liver cancers.
abstract: Tissue copper contents in 38 primary and 45 metastatic hepatic malignancies and 15 control livers were analyzed by atomic absorption spectrophotometry. The average copper content of 15 control livers was 23.1 +/- 13.0 micrograms/g dry weight (microgram/gdw). The copper content of five cholangiocellular carcinomas (CCCs) and 45 metastatic cancers was almost equal to the control level. Thirty three hepatocellular carcinomas (HCCs) contained a larger amount of copper (61.5 +/- 76.8 micrograms/gdw) than the control livers (p less than 0.05), but the copper content of HCCs showed a considerably wide variation. The average copper content of nine minute HCCs (126 +/- 112 micrograms/gdw) was significantly (p less than 0.05) higher than that of 24 large HCCs (37.2 +/- 39.9 micrograms/gdw). Histologically, orcein and paramethylaminobenzylidene rhodamine positive granules were seen in eight and four of nine minute HCCs, respectively. These granules were also found in some large HCCs, but were never found in CCCs and metastatic cancers. It was concluded that these excessive accumulations of copper and copper-binding proteins might present a helpful finding to distinguish some cases of HCC, especially small HCC, from CCCs, metastatic cancers and hypertrophic regenerative nodules of cirrhotic livers. The significance and possible pathogenesis of these copper accumulations in HCCs require further studies.
mesh_terms: D002759:Adenoma, Bile Duct / Q000032:analysis* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000556:secondary; D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000032:analysis* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000556:secondary; D003300:Copper / Q000032:analysis*; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D006801:Humans; D008099:Liver / Q000032:analysis*; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000032:analysis* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000556:secondary
chemical_list: D003300:Copper