[Expression of proliferating cell nucleus antigen and nm23 protein and their relation with metastasis in hepatocellular carcinoma].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the expression of proliferating cell nucleus antigen (PCNA) and nm23 protein in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and their relation with metastasis. METHODS: The expression of PCNA and nm23 protein in 56 HCCs were detected by the immunohistochemical technique. RESULTS: Of the 56 HCCs, the expression strength of PCNA and nm23 protein were significantly related to the differentiation degree of HCC: the poorer the differentiation of HCC, the stronger the PCNA expression, and the weaker the nm23 protein expression. The correlation analysis indicated that the strength of the PCNA expression was negatively related to that of nm23 (P < 0.01). The intensity of PCNA expression in HCCs with metastasis was significantly higher than that in HCCs without metastasis (P < 0.01), which was inverse with nm23 protein (P < 0.01). CONCLUSION: The level of PCNA and nm23 protein may reflect the differentiation degree and metastasis potential of HCC, and may be one of the useful parameters for judging prognosis of HCC.