Increased hepatic androgen receptor expression in female rats during diethylnitrosamine liver carcinogenesis. A possible correlation with liver tumor development.

This study investigated the relationship between liver tumor development and androgen-receptor expression in diethylnitrosamine hepatocarcinogenesis in Wistar rats (SUAH substrain). Random liver samples were assayed by an isoelectric focusing method, with [3H]mibolerone as androgenic radioligand. After 16 wk of oral diethylnitrosamine treatment there was a greater than 20-fold increase in hepatic androgen receptor concentration in female rats (control group 0.3 +/- 0.07 fmol/mg cytosol protein; test group 8.36 +/- 0.96 fmol/mg cytosol protein; p less than 0.001, unpaired Student's t-test). This coincided with, and may be related to, an accelerated development of neoplastic nodules or hepatocellular carcinoma, or both. Male rats showed slower tumor development and no change in androgen receptor concentrations. This model is the first to demonstrate significantly increased androgen sensitivity in experimental hepatic carcinogenesis analogous to increased androgen receptor expression in human hepatocellular carcinoma. It may provide insight into steroid hormone sensitivity in developing tumors, and a means of testing potential therapeutic use of hormonal manipulation in human liver cancer.