This study aimed to investigate the expression of
angiotensin II type 1 receptor (AT-1R)
mRNA and the AT-1R
protein in human primary
hepatocellular carcinoma (PHC), and to attempt to elucidate their association with pathological and clinical characteristics. Fresh
tumor and normal liver tissues were obtained from 44 patients with PHC following
hepatectomies. AT-1R
mRNA levels were quantitatively analyzed by quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) while the
protein levels were assessed by immunohistochemistry. The expression levels of AT-1R were observed in
hepatocellular carcinoma tissues and normal liver tissues. The level of AT-1R
protein expression in normal liver tissues was higher compared with that in PHC tissues (P=0.0033). The AT-1R
mRNA levels were higher in patients with negative hepatitis B virus
surface antigen (
HBsAg), normal α-
fetoprotein (AFP) levels and high
tumor differentiation, compared with those in patients with positive
HBsAg (P=0.0005), upregulated AFP levels (P=0.0008) and poor
tumor differentiation (P=0.0290). No significant correlation was identified between the expression levels of AT-1R
mRNA and general characteristics such as gender, age, cirrhotic nodules,
tumor size,
tumor encapsulation,
tumor number,
carcinoma embolus,
tumor metastasis or
tumor recurrence. Downregulated levels of AT-1R
mRNA and AT-1R
protein may indicate a poor prognosis for patients with PHC.