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Detection of AFPmRNA and melanoma antigen gene-1mRNA as markers of disseminated hepatocellular carcinoma cells in blood |
Shi-Zhong Yang, Jia-Hong Dong, Kun Li, Yu Zhang and Jin Zhu |
Chongqing, China
Author Affiliations: Southwest Hepatobiliary Hospital & Institute of Hepatobiliary Surgery, Southwest Hospital, Third Military Medical University, Chongqing 400038, China (Yang SZ, Dong JH, Li K, Zhang Y and Zhu J)
Corresponding Author: Jia-Hong Dong, MD, Southwest Hepatobiliary Hospital & Institute of Hepatobiliary Surgery, Southwest Hospital, Third Military Medical University, Chongqing 400038, China (Tel: 86-23-68754168; Fax: 86-23-65462170; Email: jhdong@hbsky.org.cn) |
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Abstract BACKGROUND: The highly sensitive technique of reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction(RT-PCR) has been used to detect circulating tumor cells. This study was undertaken to detect circulating hepatocellular carcinoma cells and to evaluate their potential clinical implication in HCC patients.
METHODS: Subjects included 65 patients with primary HCC, 22 patients with hepatitis B and liver cirrhosis, 12 patients with metastatic liver cancer, 11 patients with hepatic hemangioma, and 20 healthy volunteers. AFPmRNA and melanoma antigen gene (MAGE-1) mRNA in peripheral blood samples were tested using nested RT-PCR.
RESULTS: The positive rates of MAGE-1mRNA and AFPmRNA were 41.5% (27) and 53.8% (35), respectively in the HCC patients. In 64.6%(42) of the 65 patients, there was at least one positive marker. The positive rate of AFPmRNA or MAGE-1mRNA was correlated with portal thrombosis, nodules of tumor, tumor diameter and TNM stage (P<0.05). Samples from 4 (33.3%) of the 12 patients with metastatic liver cancer were MAGE-1mRNA positive, samples from 3(13.6%) of the 22 patients with cirrhosis AFPmRNA positive, and the others were both negative.
CONCLUSIONS: Nested RT-PCR is a sensitive and reliable method for detecting circulating HCC cells. A two-marker RT-PCR assay with a liver-specific AFP marker and a cancer specific MAGE-1 marker may be a promising tool for detecting blood disseminated HCC cells with a better sensitivity and specificity than a single marker RT-PCR.
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Cite this article: |
Yang SZ,
Dong JH,
Li K,
et al.
Detection of AFPmRNA and melanoma antigen gene-1mRNA as markers of disseminated hepatocellular carcinoma cells in blood.
Hepatobiliary Pancreat Dis Int
2005;
4(2):
227-233. DOI:
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URL: |
http://dx.doi.org/ OR http://www.hbpdint.com/EN/Y2005/V4/I2/227 |
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