Expression of TGF-β_1 and IGF-II in hepatocellular carcinoma tissue and the relationship to metastasis

Objective To investigate the expression of transforming growth factor 1(TGF-β1) and insulin-like growth factor(IGF-Ⅱ) in hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC) and their relationships with HCC metastasis.Methods The expression of TGF-β1 and IGF-Ⅱ in HCC specimens were examined in 39 cases with HCC by routine streptavidin-peroxidase(SP) immunohistochemical assay.The specimens of 21 cases of hepatocirrhosis and 16 cases of liver trauma and liver cyst were taken as control.The relationships between their expression levels,liver histopathological grading and correlations with metastasis were analyzed.Results The positive rate of TGF-β1 and IGF-Ⅱ in HCC tissue of metastasis group were significantly higher than that in non-metastasis group,and significantly higher in lowly differentiated group were than in highly differentiated group.TGF-β1 almost was negative in normal liver tissue and in hepatocirrhosis.IGF-Ⅱ was negative or weak positive in normal liver tissue and in hepatocirrhosis.The expressions levels of TGF-β1 and IGF-Ⅱ in HCC tissue were positively correlated.Conclusions The expressions of TGF-β1 and IGF-Ⅱwere correlated with differentiating degree of tumour and development of invasive metastasis.Furthermore,it may mediate important aspects of clinical diseases such as evaluating prognosis of HCC,judging malignant degree of HCC and prognosticating biological behaviour.