Immunochemical localization of protein kinase Cα in the biopsies of human hepatocellular carcinoma

The purpose of this study was to elucidate the protein kinase C (PKC) α distribution in human hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). The histoimmunopathologic technique was used to determine the localization and expression of PKCα in HCC biopsies. The HCC tissues were classified as cytosolic type (PKCα deposited in the cytoplasm in ＞50% of cells) and membranous type for the remaining ones. There was a significant association of the membranous type with non-hepatitis C virus (HCV) infected patients. Moreover, the expression of PKCα in this type was significantly higher in HCC cells than that in the adjacent non-tumor liver cells. The result indicated that PKCα may play an important role in carcinogenesis of HCC patients with HBV infection and/or non-HCV infection.