Localization of P-glycoprotein (P-gp) and p53 was immunohistochemically examined in 41 patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in order to determine the relationship between the expression of P-gp and p53 and the degree of histological differentiation or cell proliferation in HCC. P-gp showed different patterns of expression between cancerous and cirrhotic liver hepatocytes, and the expression in cancerous tissue also varied according to the degree of histological differentiation. In cirrhotic liver hepatocytes, expression of P-gp was found on bile canalicular membranes. In the case of cancerous tissue, P-gp was localized on the canalicular membranes in well-differentiated HCC showing a trabecular pattern, as recognized cirrhotic liver hepatocytes. In moderately differentiated HCC showing pseudo-glandular patterns, predominant expression of P-gp was found on the luminal side of cell membranes of the glandular ducts. The P-gp expression rate was 87.5% in well-differentiated HCC, 84% in moderately differentiated HCC, and 37.5% in poorly differentiated HCC, indicating a marked decrease with decreasing degree of differentiation. On the other hand, the rate of mutation of p53, a tumor suppressor gene, was 12.5% in well-differentiated HCC, 52.0% in moderately differentiated HCC, and 85.5% in poorly differentiated HCC, showing a significant increase with decreasing degree of differentiation (P<0.005). The labeling index (LI) of proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) tended to increase with the progression of chronic liver disease, with a markedly high value of 24.0+/-1.5% in cases of HCC. The PCNA LI was 15.6+/-11.9% in well-differentiated HCC, 23.1+/-15.1% in moderately differentiated HCC, and 50.1+/-13.3% in poorly differentiated HCC, which indicated a significantly increase in poorly differentiated HCC (P<0.001). Thus, it became apparent that abnormal expressions of P-gp and p53 and the cell proliferation in HCC vary according to the degree of histological differentiation of the malignancy. This suggests that more effective chemotherapy for HCC can be potentially developed by considering the pattern and level of expression of P-gp as a mechanism of drug resistance and the extent of histological differentiation.