Detection of AFPmRNA and melanoma antigen gene-1mRNA as markers of disseminated hepatocellular carcinoma cells in blood.

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.

• Authors: Shi-Zhong Yang, Jia-Hong Dong, Kun Li, Yu Zhang, Jin Zhu
• Journal: Hepatobiliary & pancreatic diseases international : HBPD INT (Hepatobiliary Pancreat Dis Int) Vol. 4 Issue 2 Pg. 227-33 (May 2005) ISSN: 1499-3872 [Print] Singapore
• PMID: 15908320 (Publication Type: Comparative Study, Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)

Chemical References

• Antigens, Neoplasm
• Biomarkers, Tumor
• MAGEA1 protein, human
• Melanoma-Specific Antigens
• Neoplasm Proteins
• RNA, Messenger
• alpha-Fetoproteins

Topics

• Adult
• Aged
• Antigens, Neoplasm
• Biomarkers, Tumor (blood)
• Carcinoma, Hepatocellular (genetics, pathology)
• Case-Control Studies
• Cell Line, Tumor
• Chi-Square Distribution
• Cohort Studies
• Female
• Humans
• Liver Neoplasms (genetics, pathology)
• Male
• Melanoma-Specific Antigens
• Middle Aged
• Neoplasm Proteins (blood, genetics, metabolism)
• Neoplastic Cells, Circulating
• Probability
• RNA, Messenger (analysis)
• Reference Values
• Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction (methods)
• Sensitivity and Specificity
• alpha-Fetoproteins (genetics, metabolism)