OBJECTIVETo study the role of arginase-1 (Arg-1) expression in differential diagnosis of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), Arg-1 staining pattern in clear cell neoplasm (HCC and non-HCC) and Arg-1 expression in non-hepatocellular tumors.

METHODSSeventy-eight cases of HCC (including 8 cases of clear cell type and 70 cases of non- clear cell type) and 246 cases of non-hepatocellular neoplasms (including 29 cases of metastatic tumors such as breast cancer, nasopharyngeal carcinoma and neuroendocrine carcinoma, 77 cases of tumors with clear cell changes such as malignant melanoma, clear cell renal cell carcinoma and alveolar soft part sarcoma, and 140 cases of other types of tumors such as ovarian endometrioid adenocarcinoma, pituitary tumor and thyroid papillary carcinoma) were studied.Immunohistochemical study for Arg-1 was performed on the paraffin-embedded tumor tissue.

RESULTSIn HCC, Arg-1 demonstrated both cytoplasmic and nuclear staining, with an overall sensitivity of 96.2% (75/78).In well, moderately and poorly differentiated HCC, the sensitivity was 15/15, 100% (41/41) and 86.4% (19/22), respectively. That was in contrast to negative staining for Arg-1 in all the 29 cases of metastatic tumors studied. The sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value and negative predictive value of Arg-1 in distinguishing HCC from metastatic tumors was 96.2%, 100%, 100% and 90.6%, respectively. Cytoplasmic and membranous staining was observed in clear cell type of HCC. The overall sensitivity of Arg-1 expression in the 77 cases of tumors with clear cell changes was 14.3% (11/77), including 8/15 for malignant melanoma, 2/4 for ovarian clear cell carcinoma and 1/1 gall bladder adenocarcinoma with clear cell component.In malignant melanoma and ovarian clear cell carcinoma, only cytoplasmic staining was demonstrated. There was no expression of Arg-1 in the 140 cases of other tumor types studied.

CONCLUSIONSArg-1 is a sensitive and specific marker for HCC.It is a potentially useful immunohistochemical marker in distinguishing HCC from metastatic tumors. Though also expressed in malignant melanoma and ovarian clear cell carcinoma, Arg-1 shows a different staining pattern as compared with that in HCC.

Adenocarcinoma ; enzymology ; Adult ; Aged ; Arginase ; metabolism ; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular ; enzymology ; pathology ; secondary ; Cell Differentiation ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Female ; Gallbladder Neoplasms ; enzymology ; Humans ; Liver Neoplasms ; enzymology ; pathology ; secondary ; Male ; Melanoma ; enzymology ; Middle Aged ; Ovarian Neoplasms ; enzymology ; Stomach Neoplasms ; enzymology ; pathology

Carcinoma, Hepatocellular ; enzymology ; pathology ; Glutathione Peroxidase ; Humans ; Liver Neoplasms ; enzymology ; pathology ; Thioredoxin-Disulfide Reductase

Telomerase is highly activated in human immortal cell lines and tumor tissues, whereas it is not activated in primary cell strains and many tumor-adjacent tissues. It is suggested that telomerase activation is one of the critical steps in malignant transformation. In the present study, the telomerase activity was investigated in hepatocellular carcinoma tissues and non-tumor liver tissues from Korean patients with chronic hepatitis and cirrhosis. Eighty two liver tissues (24 chronic hepatitis specimens, 34 cirrhosis specimens, and 24 hepatocellular carcinomas) were obtained from 23 chronic viral hepatitis patients, 19 cirrhosis patients (including 7 liver transplants), and 24 patients with hepatocellular carcinoma, of which the surrounding non-tumor liver tissues were available in 16 patients (1 chronic hepatitis and 15 cirrhosis). As negative controls, 3 normal liver tissues were included. Protein from liver specimens was purified by a detergent lysis method as described elsewhere, and telomerase activity was measured in 2 diluents of each sample (1:1 and 1:100) by a telomeric repeat amplification protocol (TRAP). Telomerase was strongly activated in 79% (19/24) of the hepatocellular carcinomas, while weakly in 8% (2/24) of the chronic hepatitis tissues and in 24% (8/34) of the cirrhosis tissues. All of 3 normal control livers showed no telomerase activation. No relationship could be observed between the enhancement of telomerase activity and tumor nature. None of the chronic heaptitis or cirrhosis patients with mild telomerase activation in the liver have developed hepatocellular carcinoma for at least 2 years of follow-up period. These results suggest that the strong enhancement of telomerase activity may be a critical part of hepatocarcinogenesis, although the exact mechanism of such high activation in hepatocellular carcinoma is not clear. In addition, further study will be necessary to clarify the reason why no telomerase activity detectable by a conventional TRAP can be seen in some hepatocellular carcinoma.
Adult ; Aged ; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular/pathology ; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular/enzymology* ; Cell Transformation, Neoplastic* ; Comparative Study ; Enzyme Activation ; Female ; Hepatitis, Chronic/enzymology ; Human ; Liver Cirrhosis/enzymology ; Liver Neoplasms/pathology ; Liver Neoplasms/enzymology* ; Male ; Middle Age ; Precancerous Conditions/enzymology* ; Telomerase/analysis*

Animals ; Arachidonate 5-Lipoxygenase ; metabolism ; Cyclooxygenase 2 ; metabolism ; Fatty Liver ; enzymology ; pathology ; Hepatitis, Viral, Human ; enzymology ; pathology ; Humans ; Liver Diseases ; enzymology ; pathology ; Liver Diseases, Alcoholic ; enzymology ; pathology ; Liver Neoplasms ; prevention & control

OBJECTIVETo explore the relationship between the alteration in GGT mRNA expression and the development of HCC.

METHODSThree GGT mRNA types (F, H, and P) in normal liver tissues, diseased liver tissues without HCC, cancerous and noncancerous tissues from livers with HCC, and noncancerous tissues from livers with metastatic tumor were tested by RT-PCR.

RESULTSIn normal livers, the main type of GGT mRNA was type F. In liver diseases but not HCC, the distribution of the type GGT mRNA was nearly the same as in normal livers. The prevalence of type H was significantly higher in both cancerous and noncancerous tissues of livers with HCC than in livers without HCC (P<0.05). The prevalence of type F in cancerous tissues was significantly lower than that in livers without HCC (P<0.05).

CONCLUSIONSThe GGT mRNA expression in the human liver will shift from type F to type H during the development of HCC. The fragment analysis of GGT genes may be a sensitive assay to detect hepatic cell canceration.

Carcinoma, Hepatocellular ; enzymology ; genetics ; pathology ; Female ; Gene Expression Regulation, Enzymologic ; Humans ; Liver ; enzymology ; metabolism ; pathology ; Liver Diseases ; enzymology ; genetics ; pathology ; Liver Neoplasms ; enzymology ; genetics ; pathology ; Male ; RNA, Messenger ; genetics ; metabolism ; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction ; gamma-Glutamyltransferase ; genetics

OBJECTIVETo investigate the changes of sugar chain structures of alkaline phosphatase (ALP) in hepatoma tissue and its relation to the invasiveness of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).

METHODSThe binding ratios of ALP from 9 normal liver tissues, 16 hepatoma tissues and 16 noncancerous tissues surrounding hepatoma were analysed by affinity chromatography on various lectin columns including leukoagglutinating phytohemagglutinin (L-PHA), lentil lectin (LCA), Datura stramonium agglutinin (DSA), erythroagglutinating phytohemagglutinin (E-PHA) and Sambucus nigra bark agglutinin (SNA).

RESULTSThe binding ratios of ALP on L-PHA (22.94%+/-5.30%), DSA (55.97%+/-13.72%), LCA (38.16%+/-8.87%), E-PHA (11.56%+/-4.81%) and SNA (69.80%+/-13.71%) in HCC tissues were significantly increased (P<0.01) compared with that in normal liver tissues (L-PHA 5.89%+/-2.75%, DSA 36.20%+/-11.58%, LCA 17.90%+/-6.71%, E-PHA 5.38%+/-2.20%, SNA 57.32%+/-11.27%), respectively. t values between the two groups were 8.94, 3.64, 5.94, 3.62 and 2.32, respectively. L-PHA-binding ratio (25.84%+/-4.67%) of ALP in HCC with invasiveness was significantly higher than that (18.10%+/-3.64%) without invasiveness (t=3.71, P<0.01).

CONCLUSIONThe changes of ALP sugar chain structures occur in HCC tissue. b1-6 branching sugar chain structure of ALP is related to the invasiveness of HCC.

Alkaline Phosphatase ; chemistry ; Carbohydrates ; chemistry ; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular ; enzymology ; pathology ; Chromatography, Affinity ; Humans ; Lectins ; metabolism ; Liver Neoplasms ; enzymology ; pathology ; Neoplasm Invasiveness

OBJECTIVETo investigate the expression of heparanase mRNA and its relation with the clinicopathological features and angiogenesis in primary hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).

METHODSExpression of heparanase mRNA was detected by RT-PCR in 51 HCC lesions, and microvessel density (MVD) was detected by immunohistochemical stain with a factor VIII-related monoclonal antibody.

RESULTSExpression of heparanase mRNA was shown in 49.0% (25/51) HCC lesions. The positive rate of heparanase expression in tumors larger than 3 cm (63.6%, 21/33) was significantly higher than those in smaller tumors (22.2%, 4/18; P < 0.01). Heparanase expression was more frequent in highly invasive tumors (70.0%, 14/20) compared with moderately invasive tumors (46.7%, 7/15) and low invasive ones (25.0%, 4/16; P < 0.05). Moreover, heparanase expression in tumors with high MVD (62.5%, 20/32) was significantly higher than those in tumors with low MVD (26.3%, 5/19; P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONHeparanase mRNA expression may be important for the growth, invasion and angiogenesis of hepatocellular carcinoma.

Adult ; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular ; blood supply ; enzymology ; pathology ; Female ; Glucuronidase ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Humans ; Liver ; enzymology ; Liver Neoplasms ; blood supply ; enzymology ; pathology ; Male ; Microcirculation ; pathology ; Middle Aged ; Neoplasm Invasiveness ; Neovascularization, Pathologic ; enzymology ; RNA, Messenger ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Tumor Burden

Tumorous cells are characterized by distinctive metabolic reprogramming and living conditions. Understanding drug metabolizing features in tumor cells will not only favor the estimation of metabolic rate, elimination half life and the assessment of potency, but also facilitate the optimal design of anti-tumor drugs/prodrugs. This article reviewed the expression and activity features of major drug metabolizing enzymes (DMEs) in solid tumorous tissues, such as liver, intestine, breast and lung, and the difference from the correspondingly normal tissues, exemplified by the metabolic properties of some classic antitumor-agents in tumorous tissues. In combination with the data retrieved in vitro tumor cell lines, we discussed the similarities and differences of DMEs expression and function between tumor tissues (in vivo) and tumor cells (in vitro), and proposed the possible factors that cause the differences.
Antineoplastic Agents ; pharmacokinetics ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Humans ; Inactivation, Metabolic ; Liver ; metabolism ; Neoplasms ; enzymology ; Prodrugs ; pharmacokinetics

OBJECTIVETo investigate the expression and significance of nitric oxide synthase (cNOS) mRNA in primary hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), cirrhotic liver and normal liver tissue.

METHODScNOS mRNA expression in 80 HCC, 40 cirrhotic liver and 20 normal liver tissue were observed by in situ hybridization. CD34 immunostain was used to measure the microvascular density (MVD) and Ki-67 immunostain to proliferative index.

RESULTSExpression of cNOS mRNA was observed in the liver cancer cells, endothelial cells in the non-cancerous liver tissues and mononuclear and/or phagocytes. Expression of cNOS mRNA in tumor cells of HCC was higher than that in the liver cells of cirrhotic liver (P < 0.01) which was higher than the normal liver tissue. Expression in the endothelial cells was higher in HCC and cirrhotic liver than those in the normal liver tissue (P < 0.01). HCC with positive cNOS mRNA expression in the endothelial cells showed higher extent of neovascularization and degree of proliferative index. The more MVD, the higher proliferative index, which increased in metastatic tumors.

CONCLUSIONcNOS mRNA expression was involved in oncogenesis, angiogenesis and progression of hepatocellular carcinoma.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular ; blood supply ; enzymology ; pathology ; Cell Proliferation ; Child ; Female ; Humans ; Liver ; blood supply ; enzymology ; Liver Neoplasms ; blood supply ; enzymology ; pathology ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Neovascularization, Pathologic ; etiology ; Nitric Oxide Synthase ; genetics ; physiology

Animals ; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular ; enzymology ; Liver ; enzymology ; Liver Neoplasms ; enzymology ; Matrix Metalloproteinase 2 ; metabolism ; Matrix Metalloproteinase 9 ; metabolism ; Phenylalanine ; analogs & derivatives ; pharmacology ; Protease Inhibitors ; pharmacology ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar ; Thiophenes ; pharmacology