OVEREXPRESSION OF TRANSFORMING GROWTH-FACTOR-ALPHA IN HEPATOCELLULAR-CARCINOMA AND FOCAL NODULAR HYPERPLASIA FROM EUROPEAN PATIENTS

The expression of transforming growth factor-α (TGF-α) was studied in 33 surgically excised human hepatocellular carcinomas (HCCs), focal nodular hyperplasias (FNHs), and the surrounding liver tissue from patients who were life-long residents of Hungary. Monoclonal antibodies were used to localize TGF-α and hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) using an avidin-biotin-peroxidase immunohistochemical method on paraffin-embedded sections. Transforming growth factor-α was detected in the tumor tissue in 13 of 16 patients with HCC (81%) and in 12 of 17 patients with FNH (71%). Three patients with HCC were actively infected with hepatitis B virus, indicated by the detection of HBsAg in the serum and in adjacent nontumorous liver. Transforming growth factor-α was detected in the same nontumorous hepatocytes as HBsAg, often in areas of the hepatocyte cytoplasm, with a "ground glass" appearance. Bile duct cells were stained for TGF-α in the surrounding nontumorous liver tissue and a more intensive immunostaining was observed in the proliferating bile ducts in the FNH cases, which suggests that TGF-α may participate in the growth regulation of bile ducts. © 1994.