[A study of the relationship between expression of IGF-II, IGF-IIR, HBxAg and the DNA ploidy, cell cycle of hepatocytes in hepatocarcinoma].

In order to study the role of insulin-like growth factor II (IGF-II) in the development of hepatocarcinoma (HCC), the expression of IGF-II, IGF-II receptor (IGF-IIR) and HBxAg in HCC was studied with immunohistochemistry (PAP method). Meanwhile DNA ploidy and S-phase fraction of hepatocytes were analyzed with flow cytometry. The results were as follows: (1) IGF-II, IGF-IIR and HBxAg showed positive staining simultaneously in the tumor tissues of 93% (n = 15) of the HCC cases with chronic liver disease and with positive evidence of HBV; (2) The mean S-phase incidence in tissues of IGF-II positive HCC was 28.6 +/- 6.4%; this was higher than 12.8 +/- 2.4% in the IGF-II negative tumors (P < 0.05); (3) The incidence of DNA-aneuploidy in IGF-II positive liver tissues was 100% (10/10); this was higher than 60% (6/10) in IGF-II negative liver tissues (P < 0.05). It is suggested that IGF-II might play an important role in the development of HCC when there is evidence of HBV and chronic liver disease involvement. IGF-II positive staining HCC have increased proliferative activity as compared with IGF-II negative staining tumors.