[Relationship between the expression of transforming growth factor beta type I receptor (T beta R I) and prognosis of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC)].

Objective: To study the expression of T beta R I in HCC tissues and its clinical significance.

Methods: Expressions of T beta R I in HCC tissues (HT, n = 30) and surrounding liver tissues(HST, n = 30) as well as four normal control liver tissues (CIT, n = 4) were determined by radioligand binding assay with 125I TGF beta 1 as the ligand. Relationships between some clinicopathological parameters of HCC and the relative expression rates of T beta R I in HCC were studied.

Results: Compared with that in HST, the expression of T beta R I HT was significantly lower than in HST and CIT (P < 0.01). The expression of T beta R I in HST is similar to that in CIT. T beta R I relative expression rates in the group of no capsule or capsule invaded and in the group of tumor embolus were markedly decreased (P < 0.05). No close relationships were found between the T beta R I relative expression rate and age, sex, HBV infection, liver cirrhosis, AFP concentration, tumor diameter, tumor number, tumor differentiation as well as tumor embolus.

Conclusions: The low expression of T beta R I in HT may be one of the key event which promote the HCC malignant growth by protecting them against the growth inhibition effect of active TGF beta. The T beta R I relative expression rate may be related to the prognosis of HCC.