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Expression of transforming growth factor‐α in hepatoblastoma
Author(s) -
Kiss András,
Szepesi Ágota,
Lotz Gábor,
Nagy Péter,
Schaff Zsuzsa
Publication year - 1998
Publication title -
cancer
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 3.052
H-Index - 304
eISSN - 1097-0142
pISSN - 0008-543X
DOI - 10.1002/(sici)1097-0142(19980815)83:4<690::aid-cncr9>3.0.co;2-o
Subject(s) - hepatoblastoma , transforming growth factor , proliferating cell nuclear antigen , biology , cyclin d1 , cell growth , in situ hybridization , transforming growth factor beta , cancer research , cyclin e1 , pathology , immunohistochemistry , gene expression , cancer , medicine , cell cycle , endocrinology , gene , biochemistry , genetics
BACKGROUND Transforming growth factor‐α (TGF‐α) is a potent stimulator of cell proliferation in the liver and in liver tumors; however, its significance and association with hepatocyte proliferation remains unclear. METHODS Expression of TGF‐α and proliferation markers, such as proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) and cyclin A, were studied and correlated with each other in samples of tumor and surrounding liver tissue taken from nine patients with hepatoblastoma. An avidin‐biotin‐peroxidase immunohistochemical method was used for detection of TGF‐α, PCNA, and cyclin A, and in situ hybridization was used to detect TGF‐α mRNA. RESULTS Two types of tumor cells of epithelial origin were distinguished based on the expression of TGF‐α protein and RNA. The more differentiated "fetal" phenotype had a high expression of TGF‐α and correlated with a low expression of proliferation markers. The less differentiated "embryonal" phenotype had low TGF‐α expression and high proliferation activity. CONCLUSIONS The expression of TGF‐α is associated with a certain morphologic phenotype of tumor cells in hepatoblastoma; higher expression can be detected in more differentiated tumor cells. The negative correlation between the expression of TGF‐α and proliferation markers suggests that the less differentiated embryonal cells do not depend on growth stimulation provided by TGF‐α. Cancer 1998;83:690‐697. © 1998 American Cancer Society.