Enzyme patterns in human hepatocellular carcinoma.

Characteristic enzyme alterations have been demonstrated during the stages of experimental hepatocarcinogenesis in rats. The activity of gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase (GGTPase) in hyperplastic and neoplastic hepatocytes is usually increased, whereas that of canalicular adenosine triphosphatase (ATPase) and of glucose-6-phosphatase (G6Pase) is more variable. The activities of these marker enzymes were studied by histochemical techniques in 10 human hepatocellular carcinomas (HCCs), 1 liver cell adenoma, and 1 cholangiocarcinoma of liver. In 9 cases, the nontumorous liver was also examined. All HCCs, but not the liver cell adenoma, displayed enzyme patterns that differed from normal. GGTPase activity was markedly increased in 8 HCCs, whereas the activities of G6Pase and ATPase were lost in 6 and 8 HCCs, respectively. These enzyme alterations occurred as 5 of 7 possible combinations, resulting in significant heterogeneity of enzyme phenotypes, similar to that in experimental hepatocarcinogenesis.