Study of deletion and mutation of p16 gene in primary hepatocellular carcinoma]

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the role the deletion and mutation of p16 gene plays in the pathogenesis of human primary hepatocarcinoma. METHODS: Thirty-one cases of human hepatocarcinoma, 31 cases of adjacent noncancerous liver cirrhosis and the leukocytes of 8 normal human subjects were analyzed for deletion and mutation in p16 gene exons 1, 2 and introns 1, 2 with comparative multiple PCR and PCR-SSCP. RESULTS: Deletion of p16 gene exon 1 and partial intron 1 was found in 4 of 31 cases (13/%). No deletion of exon 2 or intron 2 was found. Three patterns of p16 gene intron 1 and 18 bp-flanking sequence in exon 2 at SSCP analysis were observed in hepatocellular carcinoma and corresponding adjacent noncancerous cirrhosis, and two patterns were found in human normal leukocyte DNA. No aberrant single strand at SSCP in p16 gene exon 1 or most part of exon 2 or intron 2 was detected. CONCLUSION: Low frequency of deletion and rare mutation of p16 suppressor gene occurred in hepatocellular carcinoma.