Search

Background: Obesity is associated with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). The association may result from the aberrant expression of adipokines. Aim: To explore the potential biological effect and prognostic value of leptin, one of the adipokines, in HCC. Methods: Immunohistochemistry was used to evaluate the expression of leptin in 68 patients with HCC. The expression of Ki-67 and microvessel density (MVD) of tumorous lesions in HCC were also analysed. The result of leptin expression was further correlated with Ki-67 expression, intratumour MVD, clinicopathological characteristics, overall survival and the postoperative use of medroxyprogesterone acetate (MPA). Results: High leptin expression was seen in 60.3% of patients with HCC and was significantly correlated with intratumour MVD (high v low; 59.2 (standard deviation 3.2) v 44.2 (19.5), p = 0.004), but not with Ki-67 expression. No marked correlation was seen between leptin expression and clinicopathological characteristics. However, using a multivariate Cox’s proportional hazards model, leptin expression was a predictor for improved overall survival of patients with HCC (odds ratio 0.16; 95% confidence interval 0.03 to 0.87; p = 0.033). In addition, the Kaplan–Meier survival curve showed that high leptin expression was associated with a better survival in patients with HCC, treated postoperatively with MPA (p = 0.008, log rank test). Conclusion: High leptin expression was associated with an increased intratumour MVD and thus may be associated with HCC development. In addition, high leptin expression was a predictor for improved survival of patients with HCC, treated postoperatively with MPA.

Hepatic angiomyolipoma (AML), a rare benign mesenchymal tumour, is characterised by the presence of mature adipose tissue, smooth-muscle cells and thick-walled blood vessels. Increasing attention to hepatic AMLs has led to the discovery that sufficient proportions of fat often allow for definite diagnoses preoperatively. However, the proportion of fatty tissue in these tumours is highly variable. One case of hepatic AML is reported, where the amount of fat was1%. In this case, the viral hepatitis markers, including hepatitis B antigen and anti-hepatitis C virus antibody, were negative. The serum alpha-fetoprotein level was 3.4 ng/ml and in the normal range. Abdominal ultrasonography showed a hypoechoic mass measuring 5 cm in diameter and without an obvious capsule in the left lobe of the liver. A dynamic computed tomography scan showed a well-defined and slightly enhanced mass in the medial segment of the left lobe of the liver. Angiography showed that the mass was hypervascular in character. As hepatocellular carcinoma was highly suspected from these preoperative image studies, a left lobectomy was carried out. Microscopically, the amount of fat was too low to establish a diagnosis of hepatic AML. However, positive homatropine methylbromide 45 immunoreactivity of the smooth-muscle cells seemed to assist in arriving at the diagnosis.