Sex and androgenic steroid receptor expression in hepatic adenomas

Sex hormones and anabolic-androgenic steroids are implicated in the develop ment and progression of hepatic adenomas (HA). We studied the expression of their receptors in HA and adjacent liver. Archival tissue sections of 27 H A. (16 resections, four needle biopsies, seven aspirations) from 18 patient s, and the adjacent liver, were immunostained with monoclonal antibody to e strogen receptor (ER, 1/80) (Dako, Carpinteria, CA), progesterone receptor (PR, 1/50) (BioGenex, San Ramon, CA), and androgen receptor (AR, 1/80) (Bio Genex). An avidin-biotin complex technique was used with microwave antigen retrieval. Nuclear expression was assessed as 1+ to 3+ intensity, with semi quantitation of the percentage of nuclei immunopositive. Five percent or mo re nuclei immunopositive was regarded as positive. The 18 patients included 16 females of 34 years mean age (range, 16 to 49) with an available histor y of oral contraceptives in five; the two men were 24 and 30 years, with no history of androgenic steroids. ER, PR, and AR were present in seven (26%) (1 +/- 2+ intensity, 5% to 10% of nuclei) of HA, seven (26%) (1 +/- 2+ int ensity, 5% to 30% of nuclei) and nine (33%) (1 +/- 3+ intensity, 5% to 80% of nuclei), respectively. In the adjacent liver in 11 cases, there were one (9%) ER, (2+ intensity, 5% of nuclei), four (36%) PR (1 +/- 2+ intensity, 5% to 20% of nuclei), and two (18%) AR (2 +/- 3+ intensity, 10% of nuclei). Receptors are present and may mediate the action of sex hormones or androg enic steroids: on HA and adjacent liver, but in less than one third of pati ents. This may have therapeutic implications. HUM PATHOL 29:1428-1432. Copy right (C) 1998 by W.B. Saunders Company.