Expression of albumin, IGF-1, IGFBP-3 in tumor tissues and adjacent non-tumor tissues of hepatocellular carcinoma patients with cirrhosis

AIM： To explore the expression of albumin （ALB）, insulinlike growth factor （IGF）-I, and insulin-like growth factor binding protein （IGFBP）-3 in tumor tissues and adjacent non-tumor tissues of hepatocellular carcinoma （HCC） patients with cirrhosis.METHODS： Twenty-four HCC patients with cirrhosis who underwent hepatectomy were studied. ALB mRNA, IGF-1 mRNA, and IGFBP-3 mRNA in liver tissues （including tumor tissues and adjacent non-tumor tissues） were detected by reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction（RT-PCR）. Liver Ki67 immunohistochemistry staining was studied. At the same time, 12 patients with cholelithiasis or liver angioma who underwent operation were segregated as normal control.RESULTS： In HCC patients with cirrhosis, hepatic ALB mRNA, IGF-1 mRNA, and IGFBP-3 mRNA of tumor tissues or adjacent non-tumor tissues were lower than the normal liver tissues, while in tumor tissues, hepatic ALB mRNA and IGFBP-3 mRNA were lower, hepatic IGF-1 mRNA was higher than in adjacent non-tumor tissues. Liver Ki67 labeling index （Ki67 LI） in tumor tissues or adjacent nontumor tissues were higher than that in the normal liver tissues, while in tumor tissues it was higher than that in adjacent non-tumor tissues.CONCLUSION： Imbalance of IGF-1 and IGFBP-3 may play a role in hepatocarcinogenesis and tumor development of liver cirrhosis patients.