Review Article

Progesterone and Related Compounds in Hepatocellular Carcinoma: Basic and Clinical Aspects

Table 1

In vitro, in vivo, and clinical effects of progesterone and its related compounds in HCC.

ProgestinBioeffect and physical responseReference

ProgesteroneActivation of Src and downstream MAPK induced Elk-1. Transactivation that was nearly as efficient as Elk-1 activation by EGF increase in the % of cells in G2M+ S phase[31]

MASignificant decreased tumor growth and improved survival in treated patients than the placebo group[32]
Inhibition of the growth of HepG2 in dose- and time-dependent manner, and HepG2 transplanted tumor in vivo [33]
HCC patients who received MA treatment would have longer median survival (18 months) compared to untreated patients (7 months)[34]
MA improves HCC patients’ appetite, bodyweight, and a feeling of well-being with minimal side effects. And a minor reduction of tumour size and a prolonged survival[35]
Efficiency of MA treatment can be determined by expression of variant ER in HCC, but MA shows only a temporary inhibition of tumor growth[27]
MA has no role in prolonging OS in advanced treatment-naive HCC[36]

MPAIncreased migration and invasion[37]
No significant curative effects were observed in MPA-treated HCC rat[38]
Expression level of leptin predicts postoperative treatment efficiency of MPA in HCC patients[39]
Tamoxifen- and MPA-combined chemotherapy may not prolong the survival of patients with HCC, although it improves their quality of life[40]