Co-localisation of insulin-like growth factor II and the proliferation marker MIB1 in hepatocellular carcinoma cells.

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Abstract
AIM: To assess the effect of insulin-like growth factor II (IGF-II) on proliferation of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) cells. METHODS: Expression of IGF-II mRNA and protein was detected in 10 archival HCC specimens using in situ hybridisation and immunohistochemistry, respectively. Expression of the Ki-67 antigen, a proliferation marker, was determined immunohistochemically on the same sections. RESULTS: Increased expression of IGF-II mRNA and protein was detected in five of the 10 HCCs in cells located at the periphery of tumour nests. The pattern of localisation of IGF-II was almost identical with that of Ki-67 antigen. CONCLUSIONS: Most of the Ki-67 antigen positive cells co-expressed IGF-II, suggesting that IGF-II may act as an autocrine or paracrine growth factor, and may play an important role in the development of HCC.