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BACKGROUND:Transforming growth factors (TGF)-β1, TGF-βR2 and Smad4 belong to the TGF family, and play important roles in carcinogenesis and the development of carcinoma, especially hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). TGF-β1 is a multipotent polypeptide, which inhibits the growth of epithelial cells including hepatoma cell lines and hepatocytes by inducing apoptosis. TGF-βR2 forms a heterodimeric complex upon binding to TGF-β, and then generates the ifrst step in the signal transduction pathway leading to growth inhibition in coordination with the type 1 receptor. Smad4 protein is an important mediator in the TGF-β signaling pathway, and negatively regulates the growth of epithelial cells. This study aimed to detect the expression of TGF-β1, TGF-βR2 and Smad4 in HCCs and their adjacent normal tissues, while assessing its relations with the clinicopathological parameters of HCC. METHODS:Forty-seven HCC specimens and their adjacent normal tissues were obtained surgically at the Afifliated Hospital of Medical College, Qingdao University. The expression of TGF-β1, TGF-βR2 and Smad4 was separately detected by immunohistochemistry in all HCC specimens and their adjacent normal tissues, and its relations with the clinicopathological parameters of HCC were assessed. RESULTS:The positive expression of TGF-β1 was 72.34%in the HCC specimens, which was higher than that in the adjacent normal tissues (P