[Study of estrogen receptors in hepatocellular carcinoma and its response to anti-estrogen therapy].
OBJECTIVE
To study the usefulness of anti-estrogen therapy for moderately and advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).


METHODS
Estrogen receptors (ER) were examined in 51 cases of HCC by immunohistochemical staining of needle aspiration biopsy HCC specimens. The cases studied were randomly divided into two groups: the control group (N = 25) and the anti-estrogen treated group (N = 26). Patients in the control group were given matelin and immune RNA while those in the anti-estrogen treated group were given Tamoxifen in addition. A 50% reduction of serum AFP level and a 50% decrease in tumor size were considered therapeutically effective.


RESULTS
In the control group, the response rate as judged by AFP level (RR-AFP) and by tumor size (RR-TS) in the ER+ patients was 42.9% (3 of 7 cases) and 14.3% (1 of 7 cases), respectively, while the 2 RRs in the ER- patients were lower but the difference was statistically insignificant. In contrast, in the Tamoxifen-treated group, RR-AFP was 83.3% (5 of 6 cases) and RR-TS was 50.0% (3 of 6 cases). The difference in RRs of ER+ patients in the 2 groups was statistically significant. No complete remission was observed.


CONCLUSIONS
Endocrinotherapy may be of value in the treatment of ER+ HCC.
Fujian Provincial Tumor Hospital, Fuzhou.
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Zheng
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Zhang
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Xie
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D018931:Antineoplastic Agents, Hormonal / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D011960:Receptors, Estrogen / Q000378:metabolism*; D013629:Tamoxifen / Q000627:therapeutic use*
D018931:Antineoplastic Agents, Hormonal; D011960:Receptors, Estrogen; D013629:Tamoxifen