Expression of c-erbB-2 and glutathione S-transferase-pi in hepatocellular carcinoma and its adjacent tissue.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the possible role of c-erbB-2 and glutathione S-transferase (GST-Pi) in primary hepatocellular carcinogenesis and the relationship between liver hype-rplastic nodule (LHN), liver cirrhosis (LC), and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).


METHODS
The expression of c-erbB-2 and GST-Pi was detected immunohistochemically in 41 tissue specimens of HCC and 77 specimens of its adjacent tissue.


RESULTS
The positive expression of c-erbB-2 in LHN (28.6%) was significantly higher than that in LC (0%) (P = 0.032<0.05), but no significant difference was seen between HCC and LHN or LC (P>0.05, chi2= 0.002, 3.447). The positive expression of GST-Pi in HCC (89.6%) or LHN (71.1%) was significantly higher than that in LC (22.9%, P<0.001, chi2= 49.91, 16.96). There was a significant difference between HCC and LHN (P<0.05, chi2= 6.353).


CONCLUSIONS
The c-erbB-2 expression is an early event in the pathogenesis of HCC. GST-Pi may be a marker enzyme for immunohistochemical detection of human HCC and its preneoplastic lesions. LHN seems to be a preneoplastic lesion related to hepatocarcinogenesis.
Niu
Zhao-Shan
ZS
Department of Pathology, Medical College of Qingdao University, 38 Dengzhou Road, Qingdao 266021, Shandong Province, China. niumiao1993@hotmail.com
Wang
Mei
M
D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000378:metabolism*; D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D051549:Glutathione S-Transferase pi; D005982:Glutathione Transferase / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D007527:Isoenzymes / Q000378:metabolism*; D008099:Liver / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D018719:Erb-b2 Receptor Tyrosine Kinases / Q000378:metabolism*
D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D051549:Glutathione S-Transferase pi; D005982:Glutathione Transferase; D007527:Isoenzymes; D018719:Erb-b2 Receptor Tyrosine Kinases; C496556:GSTP1 protein, human