GPC3 mRNA在甲胎蛋白阴性肝癌中的表达及其意义

Expression of GPC3 gene in AFP-negative hepatoma and its clinicalimplication

目的 探讨GPC3基因在甲胎蛋白阴性肝癌中的变化及其临床意义。方法 应用印迹法 (Northern)杂交检测 48例肝癌组织及其相应的癌旁肝组织内GPC3mRNA表达的变化 ,其中肝细胞癌 41例、肝内胆管细胞癌 4例、大肠癌肝转移 2例和肝局灶性结节增生 1例 ,并结合各组织标本的病理学特点进行分析。结果 41例甲胎蛋白阴性肝细胞癌中 ,有 3 0例肝癌组织可测出GPC3mRNA的表达 (73 .17% ) ,而癌旁组织中均不表达。直径 >5cm的大肝癌GPC3的表达率显著高于直径≤ 5cm的小肝癌 ,低分化肝癌GPC3的表达率显著高于高分化的肝癌。GPC3的表达与患者的年龄、性别、包膜完整性、癌栓形成、肝内转移及乙肝病毒感染状况均无明显相关性。GPC3mRNA在非肝细胞肝癌组织内均不表达。结论 GPC3mRNA在AFP阴性肝癌中特异性表达 ,可作为原发性肝癌的一个新的基因标志。

Objective To evaluate the expression of GPC3 gene in the AFP negative hepatoma and its clinical implication. Methods Using Northern blot method, GPC3 mRNA in 48 pairs of the tumors and the surrounding nontumor liver tissues was detected. Among the 48 patients with AFP negative hepatoma, 41 were hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), 4 were intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma, 2 were metastasis from colorectal carcinoma, and 1 was focal nodular hyperplasia (FNH). Relationship between GPC3 mRNA expression and clinicopathological features was investigated. Results GPC3 mRNA was detectable in 30 cases of 41 AFP negative HCCs (73.17%), and not in the surrounding nontumor liver tissues. The expression rate of GPC3 mRNA in large tumor (>5 cm) was significantly higher than that in small tumor (≤5 cm, 79.31% vs 41.67%, P <0.01). The expression rate of GPC3 mRNA in poorly differentiated HCC was significantly higher than that in well differentiated HCC (76.47% vs 42.86%, P <0.05). The expression of GPC3 mRNA was not correlated with age, sex, HbsAg seropositivity, fibrocapsule, portal venous embolus and intrahepatic metastasis. No GPC3 mRNA was detected in non hepatocellular carcinoma. Conclusion GPC3 gene was specifically overexpressed in AFP negative HCC, indicating that GPC3 gene might be a new genetic marker of HCC and play important roles in hepatocarcinogenesis.