Abstract

Hepatoblastoma is a rare malignant liver tumor found in children. Its biological characteristics and prognostic factors have not been well known. We investigated 29 cases of hepatoblastoma, registered in university hospitals in Seoul from 1984 to 1996. By the immunohistochemical method, p53, Waf-1 (p21), bcl-2, heat shock protein 70 (hsp70), c-jun, transforming growth factor-alpha (TGF-alpha) expressions were studied. Those data were compared with clinico-pathologic features; age, sex, tumor size, tumor stage and histologic subtypes. Expression of p53 and bcl-2 were each observed separately in single cases. Expression of c-jun was more frequently noted in patients at higher stages. Expression of TGF-alpha decreased in the order of pure fetal, mixed, embryonal and small cell anaplastic subtypes. Cumulative survival rate was lower in females than in males and in patients with a higher tumor stage. According to histologic subtypes, survival rates decreased in the order of pure fetal, mixed, embryonal and small cell anaplastic subtypes. Survival rate was lower in patients with c-jun expression. Group of TGF-alpha labelling index under 19 showed a lower survival rate than that over 19. In conclusion, we found that tumor associated proteins, c-jun and TGF-alpha, are closely related to the prognosis of hepatoblastoma but p53 and bcl-2 may not be related to it.

• Keywords: Hepatoblastoma;c-jun;TGF-alpha;Survival