Detection of hepatocellular carcinoma cells in the peripheral blood with reverse--transcription polymerase chain reaction

In order to detect circulating cells of hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC) in the peripheral blood with reverse transcripition polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR ), alpha-fetoprotein (AFP ) mRNA was tested in the blood samples of 113 cases of HCC and 69 controls (including 30 cases of liver cirrhosis, 9 cases of metastatic liver cancer and 30 normal subjects). 20/43 (46. 5% ) cases of HCC and 2/30 (6. 7% ) cases of liver cirrhosis are positive and the cases of nletastatic liver cancer and normal controls were negative for human AFP(hAFP) rnRNA. The presence of hAFP mRNA in the peripheral blood seems to be correlated with intrahepatic and distant nletastasls of HCC and portal vein thrombosis. It is concluded that the presence of hAFP mRNA in the peripheral hloocl is an indicator of circulating HCC cells and can be used to diagnose the rnetastasisof HCC through henlatogenous route and RT-PCR amplification of hAFP mRNA is a sensitive and specificprocedure for detecting circulating cells of HCC.

外周血中AFPmRNA检测对原发性肝癌高危人群监测的意义

目的 :探讨外周血中AFPmRNA检测对原发性肝癌 (以下简称肝癌 )高危人群监测的价值。材料和方法 :采取AFP升高 2次以上的慢性肝病患者 6 3例、12例肝癌、2 1例肝癌术后患者静脉血 5ml,用RT -PCR进行AFPmRNA检测。结果 :AFP定量与AFPmRNA阳性率无显著关系 (P >0 .0 5 ) ,AFP进行升高组、持续升高组和波动组间AFPmRNA阳性率无显著关系(6 4.71%、40 %、40 .5 8% ,P >0 .0 5 ) ,AFP进行升高组、持续升高组发癌率为 5 8.82 % (10 / 17) ,30 % (3/ 10 )显著高于AFP波动组 4.35 % (3/ 6 9,P <0 .0 1)。AFPmRNA阳性检出肝癌 41.6 7% (5 / 12 ) ,高危结节 6 0 % (6 / 10 )、肝癌术后复发 10 0 % (4/ 4)。AFP大于 2 0 0 μg/L能检出 5 8.82 % (10 / 17)肝癌和 2 5 % (1/ 4)的术后复发灶 ,AFP大于 2 0 0 μg/L、AFPmRNA阳性结合影像检测能检出 91.6 7% (11/ 12 )的肝癌和 10 0 % (4/ 4)的术后复发灶。结论AFP进行和持续升高是肝癌发生的高危人群 ,AFPmR NA阳性也是肝癌发生的高危人群 ,AFPmRNA能检测部分AFP阴性的肝癌患者 ,因此 ,AFP。