Expression of β-Catenin in primary hepatocellular carcinoma and its clinical significance

AIM To investigate the β Catenin expression in primary hepatocellular carcinoma and its relation ship with tumor differentiation, AFP level, invasion ,metastasis and prognosis. METHODS β Catenin expression was detected in 63 cases of primary hepatocellular carcinoma by using immunohistochemical technique (DAB method). RESULTS Expression of β Catenin in 77.89% cases of primary hepato cellular carcinoma and 15% cases of liver cirrhosis was stronger than that in the surrounding normal liver tissue. The positivity rate of β Catenin was higher in poorly differentiated carcinoma group than that in well differentiated group ( P 0.001). The positivity rate of β Catenin was higher in high level AFP group than that in low level AFP group ( P 0.001). The positivity rate of β Catenin was higher in metastatic carcinoma group than that in nonmetastaatic group ( P 0.001). The two year survival rate was lower in β Catenin positive group (32.5%) than that in negative group (11.3%, P 0.05). CONCLUSION Strong or positive expression of β Catenin is related with differentiation, AFP level and metastasis of primary hepatocellular carcinoma. The expression of β Catenin might have prognostic value.