P21 protein expression and DNA quantitative analysis in human hepatocellular carcinoma

Objective To investigate p21 protein expression and DNA content in hepatocelluar carcinoma. Methods p21 protein expression was quantitatively determined by immunohistochemistry in 60 cases of hepatocellular carcinoma. Quantitative analysis of DNA in 60 cases of hepatocellular carcinoma was performed by image cytometry. Simultaneously 20 cases of adjacent tumor tissues were used as contrast.Results The positive rate of p21 protein in 60 cases of hepatocellular carcinoma was 47%(28/60), that in the adjacent tumor tissue was 15%(3/20). The positive rate of p21 protein in the high grade differentiation was 13%(2/15) and in low grade differentiation was 58%(26/45). The p21 proetin expression was significantly higher in tumor than that in adjacent tumor tissue ( P 0.05). Low grade differentiation was significantly higher than high grade differentiation ( P 0.01). The mean relative ploid of DNA (U value) in hepatocellular carcinoma was from 1.08 to 3.17. U value became higher with increase in grading ( P 0.05).Conclusion Abnormal expression of p21 protein is closely correlated with the development and malignant grade of hepatocellular carcinoma. DNA quantity in hepatocellular carcinoma is also closely correlated with the pathological characteristics and its biological behavior. Both of them can serve as indicators of predicting the prognosis and diagnosis hepatocellular carcinoma.