BACKGROUND: The purpose of our study was to investigate hepatocyte proliferation and the expression of hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) in liver tissue and blood from patients with benign and malignant liver tumors after partial hepatectomy. MATERIAL/METHODS: We studied 25 consecutive patients undergoing partial hepatectomy for metastatic colorectal adenocarcinoma (15 cases) and benign liver tumors (10 cases). Immunohistochemical examination for the presence of PCNA and HGF, c-MET/HGF-receptor expression was performed on formalin-fixed samples from: a) sections of resected fragments of liver tissue remote from the tumor; b) tumor tissue; c) remnant liver, 30 min after hepatectomy; d) fine needle aspiration liver biopsy, 7 days after liver resection. Circulating HGF and the level of AFP and GGT as biomarkers for liver cell regeneration were measured in the patients' blood at the same time. RESULTS: The proliferation rate of liver cells was higher in patients with malignant than benign liver tumors. This correlated with increased HGF in blood, but not with the expression of HGF and c-MET/HGF-R in liver tissue. The expression of HGF was detected in specimens from colorectal liver metastases. CONCLUSIONS: The mutual interactions between tumor and other cells may influence the proliferation of hepatocytes throughout the regenerative process in patients with colorectal carcinoma metastases after partial hepatectomy.

Keywords: Adenocarcinoma - metabolism, Adenocarcinoma - metabolism, Adenocarcinoma - pathology, Hepatectomy, Hepatocyte Growth Factor - metabolism, Liver - cytology, Liver - metabolism, Liver - surgery, Liver Neoplasms - metabolism, Liver Neoplasms - pathology, Liver Regeneration - physiology, Neoplasms, Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-met - metabolism, alpha-Fetoproteins - metabolism