Comparison of gene expression profiles of hepatocellular carcinoma with those of corresponding noncancerous liver in patients infected with hepatitis B virus

Abstract

Background: The effort to define the mechanism underlying hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) has been shown that genes related with cell cycle, metabolism, growth, and tumor suppressor is deregulated in HCC. As a multi-step model in of colon cancer, HCC has been considered to develop from well to poorly differentiated states.

Aims: We evaluated the gene expression patterns of different stage of HCC comparing to surrounding noncancerous tissue (NC) in patients with chronic hepatitis B.

Materials & Method: Primary HCC and NC were obtained from 6 patients. Gene expression profiles were analyzed using cDNA microarray.

Results: In patients with more advanced stage (n=2, TNM stage III, Child-Pugh class A, mean AFP 3978ng/ml), gene related with cell growth (IGF2), proliferation (E2F3), cell cycle regulation (p107), kinase (MAPK), signaling adaptor (Grb2), protein transport (PEX6) and cytoskeletal change (RhoGAP) were significantly increased. In patients with less advanced stage (n=4, Child-Pugh class A, TNM stage I-II, mean AFP 4.6ng/ml), gene related with cell cycle regulation (TC4), kinase (SURF3, RSK1), metabolism (PPP1CA) and malignant transformation (WNT2) were overexpressed. Genes related with inhibitors of protein translation (interferon-inducible RNA-dependent protein kinase), apoptosis (TFAP2B) were also significantly increased.

Conclusion: Some genes showed expression patterns in more advanced stage that were different from those in early or less advanced stage. To define the molecular mechanism and to provide the ideal therapeutic target, accumulation of data will make it possible to define the nature of individual tumor.