Female sex hormone receptor status in advanced hepatocellular carcinoma and outcome after surgical resection

Background. There is a limited amount of data regarding the estrogen receptor (ER) and progesterone receptor (PgR) status of hepatocellular carcinomas (HCCs), and the relationship between receptor status and clinicopathologic features of tumors has not been reported. Methods. Between April 1992 and December 1993, cancerous tissues for cytosolic preparation and receptor quantification in a monoclonal solid-phase enzyme immunoassay were obtained from 28 patients undergoing resection, three patients with total hepatectomy and subsequent liver transplantation, and two patients suffering from nonresectable HCC. Results. ER and PgR were detected in the HCCs of 13 (39%) and 6 patients (18%), respectively. A lower age was observed among the female patients whose receptor status was negative for ER or PgR or both, as compared with the respective receptor-positive groups. No significant differences with respect to tumor stage and grading could be observed. There was one perioperative death (3%). In patients undergoing curative resection, 1-year survival in the ER(+) group was significantly lower than in the ER(-) group (40% versus 79%, p < 0.05). The 2-year survival rates in the ER(-) and ER(-) groups were 40% and 71%, respectively. A comparable trend did not become evident for PgR(+) and PgR(-) patients. Conclusions. Our data suggest a negative effect of an ER(+) tumor on patient survival after curative resection of advanced HCC.