GPC3 mRNA在甲胎蛋白阴性肝癌中的表达及其意义

目的 探讨GPC3基因在甲胎蛋白阴性肝癌中的变化及其临床意义。方法 应用印迹法（Northern)杂交检测48例肝癌组织及其相应的癌旁肝细胞内GPC3mRNA表达的变化，其中肝细胞癌41例、肝内胆管细胞癌4例、大肠癌肝转移2例和肝局灶性结节增生1例，并结合各组织标本的病理学特点进行分析。结果 41例甲胎蛋白阴性肝细胞癌中，有30例肝癌组织可测出GPC3mRNA的表达（73.17%)，而癌旁组织中均不表达。直径＞5cm的大肝癌GPC3的表达率显著高于直径≤5cm的小肝癌，低分化肝癌GPC3 的表达率显著高于高分化的肝癌。GPC3的表达与患者的年龄、性别、包膜完整性、癌栓形成、肝内转移及乙肝病毒感染状况均无明显相关性。GPC3mRNA在非肝细胞肝癌组织内均不表达。结论 GPC3mRNA在AFP阴性肝癌中特异性表达，可作为原发性肝癌的一个新的基因标志。GPC3mRNA在肝癌的发生发展中有重要作用。

Expression of GPC3 gene in AFP-negative hepatoma and its clinical implication

Objective　To evaluate the expression of G PC3 gene in the AFP-negative hepatoma and its clinical implication. Methods　Using Northern blot method, GPC3 mRNA in 48 pairs of the tum ors and the surrounding nontumor liver tissues was detected. Among the 48 patien ts with AFP-negative hepatoma, 41 were hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), 4 were i ntrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma, 2 were metastasis from colorectal carcinoma, and 1 was focal nodular hyperplasia (FNH). Relationship between GPC3 mRNA expressio n and clinicopathological features was investigated. Results　GPC3 mRNA was detectable in 30 cases of 41 AFP-negative HCCs (73.17%) , and not in the surrounding nontumor liver tissues. The expression rate of GPC3 mRNA in large tumor (＞5 cm) was significantly higher than that in small tu mor (≤5 cm, 79.31% vs 41.67%, P＜0.01). The expression rate of GPC3 mRN A in poorly differentiated HCC was significantly higher than that in well differenti ated HCC (76.47% vs 42.86%,P＜0.05). The expression of GPC3 mRNA was no t co rrelated with age, sex, HbsAg seropositivity, fibrocapsule, portal venous embolu s and intrahepatic metastasis. No GPC3 mRNA was detected in non-hepatocellular c arcinoma. Conclusion　GPC3 gene was specifically overexpre ssed in AFP-negative HCC, indicating that GPC3 gene might be a new genetic mark er of HCC and play important roles in hepatocarcinogenesis.