Copper and copper-binding protein in fibrolamellar liver cell carcinoma.

Analysis of tissue from a recent case of fibrolamellar liver cell carcinoma by several staining and spectrophotometric methods demonstrated elevated copper and copper-binding protein (CBP) in malignant hepatocytes. Production of CBP has not previously been described for this or any other type of hepatocellular carcinoma. Identification of CBP in liver cell carcinoma adds further evidence that this protein is a normal synthetic product of liver cells which may reappear in chronic cholestasis or hepatic malignancy. The mechanism of disturbed copper homeostasis in this case is uncertain.