Objective To compare the positive rate of zinc finger protein A20， NF-κB p65 protein， and P-glyco- protein between primary hepatocellular carcinoma （HCC） tissues and paratumor tissues， and to explore the relationship between the 3 kinds of proteins and pathological features of HCC. Methods Thirty-two HCC tissues and 26 paratumor tissues resected from patients with HCC treated in our hospital from Feb. 2009 to Aug. 2010 were enrolled. Clinical data were also collected from files. The expressions of zinc finger protein A20， NF-κB p65 protein， and P-glycoprotein were tested by immunohistochemistry. Results The positive rate of zinc finger protein A20， NF-κB p65 protein， and P-glycoprotein in HCC tissues were 87.5%（28/32）， 81.3%（26/32）， and 65.6%（21/32）， respectively， which were higher than that in paratumor tissues〔61.5%（16/26）， 34.6%（9/26）， and 30.8%（8/26）， respectively〕， P＜0.05. The three kinds of proteins were all closely related with HbsAg， and zinc finger protein A20 was related with cirrhosis in addition （P＜0.05）. Conclusions The positive rate of zinc protein A20， NF-κB p65 protein， and P-glycoprotein are much higher in primary HCC tissues than that in paratumor tissus， and they may play an important role in preoperative determination of hepatic tumors.
【Abstract】Objective To investigate the imaging features of malignant invasion of major intrahepatic ductal structures (the portal and hepatic venous vasculature, the bilie duct) by primary hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) using multidetector-row spiral CT (MDCT). Methods We retrospectively analyzed 68 documented HCC patients with tumorous invasion of the major intrahepatic ductal structures who had undergone contrast-enhanced dual-phase MDCT scanning of the upper abdomen.The morphological changes of the portal and hepatic venous vasculature, the bile duct, and the liver parenchyma at both the hepatic arterial phase and portal venous phase images were carefully observed and recorded. Results Among the 68 patients, 47 patients had malignant invasion of the intrahepatic portal venous vessels with secondary tumor thrombus formation; 12 patients had tumor involvement of the hepatic veins and intraheptic segment of the inferior vena cava; Tumor invasion of the bile duct was seen in 9 patents. The direct CT signs of tumor invasion of intrahepatic venous vessels included: ①dilatation or enlargement of the involved vein with intraluminal softtissue “filling defect”； ②enhancement of the tumor thrombus at hepatic arterial phase, the so-called “venous arterialization” phenomenon. The indirect CT signs included: ①arterial-venous shunt, ②early and heterogeneous enhancement of the hepatic parenchyma adjacent to HCC focus, ③cavernous transformation of the portal vein. The CT signs suggesting tumor invasion of the bile duct included: ①dilation of the bile ducts near or proximal to HCC lesion, ②soft-tissue nodule or mass inside the bile ducts. Conclusion Invasion of major intrahepatic ductal structures by HCC will present corresponding CT imaging features. Contrast-enhanced MDCT dualphase scanning combined with appropriate image postprocessing techniques can better evaluate the malignant invasion of major intrahepatic ductal structures.
For an advanced elucidation of mechanisms of nm23-H1 suppressive effects on metastasis of primary hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), it is necessary to investigate the correlation between nm23-H1 expression and relative factors involved in the HCC invasion. In present report, full-length cDNA of nm23-H1 was subcloned into pBKCMV vector and transfected into HCC cell line to observe its effects on invasion, cytosolic free Ca2+ and Nras mRNA expression. The results showed that lower expression of N-ras and higher cytosolic free Ca2+ in transfected cell line were detected, while the potential of invasion was depressed. It suggests that the suppressive effects on HCC metastasis might interact with intracellular signal transduction which is essential for stimulating cell invasion.
We have devised a highly sensitive, specific, and quantitative assay for multidrug resistance (mdr1) mRNA expression based on the reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). mdr1 mRNA levels were detected in 30 human primary hepatocellular carcinoma (PHC) tissue and adjacent liver tissue. Five of the patients had received chemotherapy before hepatectomy. The results show that the level of expression of mdr1 gene is higher in tumor tissue than in adjacent liver tissue. mdr1 gene is overexpressed in PHC after chemotherapy. Furthermore, mdr1 gene expression in the treated tumor adjacent liver tissue is higher than that in untreated tumor adjacent liver tissue. Our results indicated that overexpression of mdr1 gene may be responsible for the intrinsic and acquired drug resistance of PHC.
Objective To investigate the expressions of X-linked inhibitor of apoptosis protein （XIAP） and survivin in primary hepatocellular carcinoma tissues，and to explore the relationship between them. Methods The expressions of XIAP and survivin protein in 38 primary hepatocellular carcinoma tissues and 16 paracancerous tissues were detected by using immunohistochemistry and the expressions were scored. Results The positive expression rate of XIAP and survivin in primary hepatocellular carcinoma tissues was 81.6% （31/38）and 78.9% （30/38），respctively （P＜0.001）， and in paracancerous tissues was 12.5% （2/16）and 6.3% （1/16）， respectively （P＜0.001）. The score of XIAP expression in the well， middle，and low differentiated tissues of primary hepatocellular carcinoma was （2.91±1.31），（9.27±3.25）， and （13.08±2.26） score， respectively （F=118.948，P＜0.001）， and the score of survivin expression was （4.85±1.83）， （11.08±3.72），and （13.38±1.76） score， respectively （F=72.202，P＜0.001）. They both significantly correlated with the histological grade，but not with the size of tumor（P＞0.05）. There was significantly correlation between the expression intensity of XIAP and survivin in primary hepatocellular carcinoma tissues （r=0.764， P＜0.001）. Conclusions The expression intensity of XIAP and survivin in primary hepatocellular carcinoma tissues are both related with the differentiation of primary hepatocellular carcinoma. The expression intensity of XIAP is related with the survivin， and they may play an important role in the tumor progression and chemical resistances.
ObjectiveTo detect the expression of Prox1 (prospero-related homeobox 1) gene in primary hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), and to analyze the correlation of Prox1 gene expression with pathological grade and clinical stage of HCC. MethodsThe expressions of Prox1 gene in carcinoma tissues and adjacent cancerous tissues in HCC as well as normal liver tissues were detected by semi-quantitative RT-PCR, then the correlation of Prox1 gene expression with HCC pathological grade and clinical stage were analyzed. ResultsThe expression of Prox1 gene in carcinoma tissues (0.243±0.102) and adjacent cancerous liver tissues (0.537±0.235) was significantly lower than that in normal liver tissue (0.812±0.372), respectively （ Plt;0.01 or Plt;0.05）. Furthermore, the expression of Prox1 gene in carcinoma tissues was significantly lower than that adjacent cancerous liver tissues (Plt;0.05). The expressions of Prox1 gene in different pathological grade (F=97.950, Plt;0.001) and clinical stage were significantly different (F=228.300, Plt;0.001), and when compared with each other, the differences of pathological grade and clinical stage were also significant (Plt;0.001 or Plt;0.01). The expressions of Prox1 gene in HCC carcinoma tissue were negatively correlated with pathological grade (r=-0.930, Plt;0.01) and clinical stage (r=-0.980, Plt;0.01) of HCC. ConclusionsExpression of Prox1 gene may be related to the initiation and development of HCC, however, that whether Prox1 gene functions as tumor suppressor in HCC needs further investigation.
Objective To assess the survival of patients receiving high intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) and investigate the prognostic factors for primary hepatocellular carcinoma (PHCC) victims with HIFU application. Methods One hundred and eighty-seven patients with PHCC undergoing HIFU treatment in our department were enrolled into this study from June 2004 to June 2007. Among them, 101 patients were males and 86 were females (mean age: 47.7 years old, range: 19-79 years old). The average tumor size was 5.7 cm (range: 0.5-18.0 cm). Of these 187 patients, numbers according to Child-Pugh grade of A, B and C were 104, 52 and 31, respectively. According to TNM system, 45, 111 and 31 patients were in stage Ⅱb, Ⅲa and Ⅲb respectively. Kaplan-Meier model and log-rank test were used in univariate analysis and Cox regression model was used in multivariate analysis to identify prognostic factors for survival. Results Survival period was (17.3±2.5) months after HIFU treatment of PHCC. The overall survival rate of 3-month, 6-month, 1-year and 2-year were 79.1%, 60.1%, 35.7%, and 29.3%， respectively. It was significant that tumor number (P=0.02), size (P=0.04)， AFP (P=0.04)， Child-Pugh grade (P=0.00)， TNM stage (P=0.01)， tumor metastasis (P=0.03) before HIFU， and tumor recurrence after HIFU (P=0.02) and standard treatment (P=0.02) were prognostic factors by single factor analysis. The following factors were identified as independent prognostic factors for overall survival by multivariate model: standard treatment protocol (P=0.000), and TNM stage (P=0.004) and Child-Pugh grade (P=0.009) before HIFU. Conclusion It is used for improving overall survival rate to found PHCC early, protect liver function, examine comprehensively before HIFU treatment, focus on standard treatment and auxiliary treatment.
Objective To explore the differential expressions of seven microRNAs between hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and adjacent nontumorous tissues (NT), analyze the correlations between differential expressing microRNAs and the levels of tumor markers in serum, and furnish evidence for novel diagnostic and prognostic tool of HCC. Methods Real-time quantitative PCR technique was used to measure the differential expressions of seven microRNAs in HCC tissues compared with NT. Results Compared with NT, the relative expressions of seven microRNAs in HCC tissues manifested statistical difference (Plt;0.05). MiR-34c, miR-21, miR-16, and miR-10b presented higher expressions in the HCC samples than those in the NT samples, while miR-200a, miR-148b, and miR-Let-7i demonstrated lower expressions in the HCC samples than those in the NT samples. In addition, miR-200a and miR-148b were markedly down-regulated in the HCC tissues than those in the NT. The differential expressions of miR-200a in HCC compared with NT samples was correlated with serum AFP level of the patients (r=0.848 9, Plt;0.01), while the differential expressions of the other six microRNAs had no correlation with the levels of tumor markers in serum (Pgt;0.05). Conclusions There are differential expressions of microRNAs between HCC and NT. MiR-200a may serve as a novel diagnostic and prognostic tool of HCC.
Objective To evaluate the efficacy of transcatheter arterial chemoembolization (TACE) combined with radiofrequency ablation (RFA) in treating primary hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Methods From March 2004 to March 2006, 137 patients with primary HCC underwent TACE alone (n=87) and TACE+RFA (n=50), respectively, after the interventional treatment, all patients periodically received CT reexaminations and alpha fetoprotein (AFP) measurement. The therapeutic efficacy, AFP level and survival rate between two groups were compared with each other. Results In TACE group the effective rate (CR+PR) was 34.5%, AFP decreasing amplitude was 54.2%, and 2 years survival rate was 43.7%. While in TACE+RFA group, the effective rate (CR+PR) was 70.0%, AFP decreasing amplitude was 78.0%, and 2 years survival rate was 62.0%, there were significant differences between two groups (P＜0.05). Conclusion Combined application of TACE and RFA is significantly superior to TACE alone in treatment of primary HCC.
【Abstract】ObjectiveTo analyse the current situation and advance in perioperative therapy of liver transplantation for primary hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC).MethodsThe published papers on current situation and advance in the perioperative therapy of liver transplantation for HCC were reviewed.ResultsThe survival rate of liver transplantation for HCC in early stage has been the same as that for benign liver diseases up to now. However, it is still a difficult problem to improve the survival rate of liver transplantation for advanced HCC. The ideal perioperative therapies of liver transplantation for HCC should be helpful to suppress the growth of tumor while the HCC patients are waiting for donated livers, to diminish or eliminate the intraoperative spread or implantation of tumor cells and to repress the micrometastasis postoperatively. The current perioperative therapies of liver transplantation for HCC include hepatic arterial chemoembolization, systemic chemotherapy, radiotherapy, percutaneous ethanol injection into HCC and radiofrequency ablation etc. ConclusionThe perioperative assistant therapy of HCC can not only save time for patients before liver transplantation but also improve the survival rate after operation.