[Hepatocellular carcinoma and the alpha 1-antitrypsin phenotype]

To determine whether or not alpha 1-antitrypsin phenotype PiMZ is a predisposing factor for hepatocellular carcinoma alpha 1-antitrypsin phenotype was studied in 83 French patients with hepatocellular carcinoma compared with 1,030 blood donors. In 66 patients, alpha 1-antitrypsin phenotype was determined by isoelectric focusing which allows the distinction between subtypes of phenotype M. No difference has been shown between the two groups for alpha 1-antitrypsin alleles or subtypes of allele Pi*M. The authors conclude that phenotype PiMZ is not a significant predisposing factor for hepatocellular carcinoma in French people. As well, a review of literature suggests that, in contrast with the conclusion of previous reports, the link between alpha 1-antitrypsin phenotype PiMZ and hepatocellular carcinoma is either nonexistent or very weak.