Expression of c-erbB-2 and glutathione S-transferase-pi in hepatocellular carcinoma and its adjacent tissue

AIM: To investigate the possible role of c-erbB-2 and glutathione S-transferase (GST-Pi) in primary hepatocellular carcinogenesis and the relationship between liver hyperplastic 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,x2 = 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, x2= 49.91, 16.96). There was a significant difference between HCC and LHN (P＜0.05,x2= 6.353).CONCLUSION: 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.

AIM： To investigate the possible role of c-erbB-2 and glutathione S-transferase （GST-Pi） in primary hepatocellular carcinogenesis and the relationship between liver hyperplastic nodule （LHN）, liver cirrhosis （LC）, and hepatocellular carcinoma （HCC）. METHODS： The expression of c-erbB-2 and GST-Pi was detected immunohistochemically in 42 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, X^2 = 0.002, 3.447）.The positive expression of GST-Pi in HCC （89.6%） or LHN （72.2%） was significantly higher than that in LC（22.9%, P〈0.001, ;X^2= 49.91, 16.96）. There was a significant difference between HCC and LHN （P〈0.05,X^2= 6.353）. CONCLUSION： 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.