Immunohistochemical alterations in hepatocellular carcinoma patients treated with doxorubicin

Abstract

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is one of the most common cancers worldwide. Doxorubicin (Dox) is an anthracycline antibiotic used as a single chemotherapeutic agent for HCC. The present work was conducted to study the immunohistochemical alterations in HCC patients treated with Dox. Thirty cases (24 males and 6 female) with a confirmed diagnosis of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) were used. They were divided into 3 groups, group 1. Ten specimens of HCC were taken before Dox treatments, group 2. Ten specimens HCC patients were taken one week after Dox treatment and group 3. Ten specimens of HCC patients were taken two weeks after Dox treatment. Hepatic biopsies were obtained from the three groups and prepared for histological, immunohistochemical (p53, Bcl-2 and CD34) and molecular studies. Histological examination of the specimen of HCC patients, before and after Dox treatment, showed trabecular appearance, cytoplasmic vacuolation of the hepatocytes, fatty degeneration and necrosis. Cirrhosis appeared in    40% of the patients before treatment and 40% and 30%   after one week and 2 weeks of treatment, respectively. Immunohistochemical results revealed an increase in expression of p53, CD34 and Bcl-2 in HCC patients. Overexpression of p53, decrease of Bcl-2 and mild degree of expression of CD34 was recorded in patients treated with Dox. Significant increase in DNA fragmentation was recorded in HCC patients treated by Dox in comparison with untreated HCC.