Overexpression of transforming growth factor-alpha in hepatocellular carcinoma and focal nodular hyperplasia from European patients.
The expression of transforming growth factor-alpha (TGF-alpha) was studied in 33 surgically excised human hepatocellular carcinomas (HCCs), focal nodular hyperplasias (FNHs), and the surrounding liver tissue from patients who were life-long residents of Hungary. Monoclonal antibodies were used to localize TGF-alpha and hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) using an avidin-biotin-peroxidase immunohistochemical method on paraffin-embedded sections. Transforming growth factor-alpha was detected in the tumor tissue in 13 of 16 patients with HCC (81%) and in 12 of 17 patients with FNH (71%). Three patients with HCC were actively infected with hepatitis B virus, indicated by the detection of HBsAg in the serum and in adjacent nontumorous liver. Transforming growth factor-alpha was detected in the same nontumorous hepatocytes as HBsAg, often in areas of the hepatocyte cytoplasm, with a "ground glass" appearance. Bile duct cells were stained for TGF-alpha in the surrounding nontumorous liver tissue and a more intensive immunostaining was observed in the proliferating bile ducts in the FNH cases, which suggests that TGF-alpha may participate in the growth regulation of bile ducts.
First Department of Pathology and Experimental Cancer Research, Semmelweis Medical University, Budapest, Hungary.
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Schaff
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Hsia
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Sarosi
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Tabor
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000150:complications / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000150:complications; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens / Q000032:analysis; D006801:Humans; D006814:Hungary; D006965:Hyperplasia; D008099:Liver / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000473:pathology*; D008103:Liver Cirrhosis / Q000150:complications; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000150:complications / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016211:Transforming Growth Factor alpha / Q000032:analysis*
D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens; D016211:Transforming Growth Factor alpha