Expression of human nm23-H1 and nm23-H2 proteins in hepatocellular carcinoma.
BACKGROUND
The expression of nm23-H1 and nm23-H2 proteins in 25 hepatocellular carcinomas was studied immunohistochemically.


METHODS
Tissue specimens were reacted with anti-human nm23-H1 and nm23-H2 monoclonal antibodies (MoAb) (H1-229 and H2-206, respectively) and then stained by the biotin-streptoavidin complex method.


RESULTS
Adjacent nontumorous tissues were intensely stained with nm23-H1 and nm23-H2. Of the 25 hepatocellular carcinomas, 60% were positive for MoAb H1-229, and 68% were positive for MoAb H2-206. These immunoreactivities were most common in the cytoplasm of tumor cells. There was no significant correlation between the expression of nm23-H1 protein and tumor size, Edmondson's histopathologic classification, or invasion of the capsule. However, the authors observed an inverse relationship between nm23-H1 expression and intrahepatic metastases of hepatocellular carcinomas. There was no significant correlation between the expression of nm23-H2 protein and clinicopathologic findings. Only a short survival period was observed in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma with reduced nm23-H1 or nm23-H2 proteins.


CONCLUSIONS
The results suggest that nm23-H1 protein plays a role in the suppression of intrahepatic metastasis of hepatocellular carcinoma and that the combined expression of nm23-H1 is associated with favorable prognosis.
Yamaguchi
A
A
First Department of Surgery, Fukui Medical School, Japan.
Urano
T
T
Goi
T
T
Takeuchi
K
K
Niimoto
S
S
Nakagawara
G
G
Furukawa
K
K
Shiku
H
H
D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000235:genetics* / Q000473:pathology / Q000556:secondary; D003593:Cytoplasm / Q000648:ultrastructure; D015972:Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens / Q000097:blood; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008099:Liver / Q000737:chemistry / Q000473:pathology; D008103:Liver Cirrhosis / Q000473:pathology; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics* / Q000473:pathology; D020559:Monomeric GTP-Binding Proteins; D054778:NM23 Nucleoside Diphosphate Kinases; D009361:Neoplasm Invasiveness; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D009701:Nucleoside-Diphosphate Kinase / Q000032:analysis / Q000235:genetics*; D011379:Prognosis; D015996:Survival Rate; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000032:analysis / Q000235:genetics*
D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens; D054778:NM23 Nucleoside Diphosphate Kinases; D014157:Transcription Factors; C517938:NME1 protein, human; D009701:Nucleoside-Diphosphate Kinase; D020559:Monomeric GTP-Binding Proteins