[Primary, nonviral, hepatocellular carcinoma in patients with prostate cancer treated by hormone therapy: 2 case reports].

We studied two cases of primary, hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) that occurred following hormone therapy (estrogen therapy in one case and total androgen blockade therapy in another) for stage D2 prostate cancer. Prostate cancer is considered to be hormone-dependent, and androgens appear to be important hormonal factors. However, hepatocellular carcinoma has been shown to have both estrogen and androgen receptors, suggesting that this may be dependent on estrogen or androgen. Reported here are two unique cases of hepatocellular carcinoma in patients with prostate cancer; the pathogenesis of HCC in these patients was suspected to be related to diethylstilbestrol (DES) therapy and antiandrogen therapy for their prostate cancer.