Specificity of androgen receptors of hepatocellular carcinoma and liver in humans.

The specificity of androgen receptor in hepatocellular carcinoma and the liver was investigated using auto-radiographic techniques. Partial hepatectomy was carried out on 11 patients with hepatocellular carcinoma and associated parenchymal disease of the liver. Androgen receptors were assayed biochemically for hepatocellular carcinoma and the surrounding liver in all cases. Estrogen receptor was also measured in five patients. In eight patients, fresh resected specimens as thick as 3 mm were first incubated for 15 minutes in a medium containing estradiol and hydrocortisone, and then radio-labeled testosterones were added to the medium. After another 60 minutes incubation, macro-autoradiographic studies were carried out. With the same medium and chemicals, and using the same principle, micro-autoradiographic studies were performed using fresh hepatocellular carcinoma and liver cell suspensions in six cases. The radio-labeled testosterones were incorporated into hepatocellular carcinoma and the liver to a parallel extent with the androgen receptor titers biochemically assayed. The current results seem to indicate that androgen receptors present in hepatocellular carcinoma and the liver of humans specifically bind androgens. Further studies are needed to elucidate the role of AR in hepatocarcinogenesis in humans.