Differential Expression of uPA in Chronic Hepatitis B and C, Liver Cirrhosis and Hepatocellular Carcinoma: Comparison with Normal Liver Tissues and Liver Metastatic Tumors

The present study investigated the tissue expression of Urokinase-type plasminogen activator in chronic viral hepatitis B; C, liver cirrhosis and Hepatocellular Carcinoma with viral hepatitis background and compare them with normal liver tissues, and with liver metastatic tumors as two control groups without viral hepatitis history. Tissue samples of 11 Hepatocellular Carcinoma, 5 chronic hepatitis B, 17 chronic hepatitis C, 17 liver metastatic tumor, 9 liver cirrhosis and 10 normal tissues were selected retrospectively from 2000 to 2004. The samples were analyzed immunohistochemcally using primary antibody (Clone 7-18 labvision corporation, USA). Except Hepatocellular Carcinoma cases, Urokinase-type plasminogen activator expression were observed in all normal adjacent tissues without hepatic background, 50% of normal tissues with viral hepatitis background, 40% of chronic hepatitis B cases, 35.3% of chronic hepatitis C cases, 66.6% of liver cirrhosis and 29.4% Of liver metastatic tumors. Significant differences were observed in Urokinase-type plasminogen activator expression profile among studied groups (p = 0.05). A significant association between sex of patients and hepatic cirrhosis were observed (p = 0.013) which was confirmed in a larger group of cirrhotic cases without history of viral hepatitis (p = 0.019). A possible protective role of Urokinase-type plasminogen activator in viral liver diseases predisposing for Hepatocellular Carcinoma is suggestive. We also suggest a possible effect of sex hormones on Urokinase-type plasminogen activator expression in hepatic cirrhosis, which should be confirmed by further studies.