Enzyme histochemical classification of hepatocellular carcinoma according to gamma glutamyl transpeptidase activity

The relation between histological type and serum γ-GTP value

Abstract

Eighty-six cases of hepatocellular carcinoma were classified into 4 types according to the γ-GTP activity, and a comparative study was carried out between the histochemical types and the serum γ-GTP value of hepatocellular carcinoma cases.
Type I (fetal type), 36 of 86 cases (41.9%), indicating marked γ-GPT activity on not only the cell membrane but also in the cytoplasm of almost all tumor cells similating fetal liver and Type II (adult type), 16 of 86 cases (18.6%), showing γ-GPT activity along the tumor cell membrane coinciding to the bile canaliculi were similar to Grade II of Edmondson's classification.
Type III (mixed type), 21 of 86 cases (24.4%), indicating different degree of γ-GPT activity in varying sites was similar to Grade III of Edmondson's classification.
Type IV (embryonal type), 13 of 86 cases (15.1%), showing hardly any activity for γ-GPT was similar to Grade IV of Edmondson's calssification.
Each type classified by γ-GPT activity demonstrated a correlation with serum value.