Alpha-antitrypsin deposition in primary hepatic carcinomas.

With the use of immunoperoxidase methods, paraffin-embedded hepatic tissue from 21 patients with primary hepatic carcinoma was tested for alpha-antitrypsin (AAT) deposition and was compared for sensitivity with the PAS reaction. Specific AAT immunoreactivity was present in tumor cells in half of the test cases, either alone or in combination with positive nonneoplastic hepatocytes. While the PAS findings generally parralleled the specific immunohistochemical studies, the latter technique exhibited greater sensitivity in AAT detection. Cytoplasmic tumor cell inclusions of three types were identified, but only one type, the solid, was found to represent immunoreactive AAT deposits. These findings confirm as association between hepatic deposition of AAT and the occurrence of primary liver carcinoma. Further prospective serum and tissue studies on patients with hepatoma are needed to extend these observations.