[Estrogen receptor expression and its relationship with biologic feature in hepatocellular carcinoma].

OBJECTIVE

For understanding the clinicopathologic significance of estrogen receptor (ER) in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) ER of the surgical resected species was detected and its relation to biologic feature was analysis.

METHODS

ER was detected in 62 HCC species with Dextran coated charcoal method. Some pathologic characteristics were studied with gross and microscopic examination and proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) was determined with immunohistochemistry using monoclonal antibody PC-10.

RESULTS

ER positive HCC had higher incidence of single nodule (83.3%) and complete encapsulation (58.3%) compared to ER negative HCC (42.1% and 21.0%). The difference was significant (P < 0.05). In small liver cancer ER positive rate was 62.5% which was higher than 30.4% in large liver cancer (P < 0.05). The PCNA labeled index was (26.2 +/- 18.7)% in ER positive HCC and (43.6 +/- 32.0)% in ER negative HCC. The difference was significant (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSION

The results suggest that ER positive HCC has less malignant biologic behavior and better prognosis than ER negative HCC.