Relation between hTERT gene,PTEN gene and clinicopathologic parameters in HCC

OBJECTIVE:To investigate the expressions of hTERT gene and PTEN gene in human hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC) tissues and discuss its significance during hepatocellular carcinogenesis.METHODS: Expressions of hTERT and PTEN protein in HCC and the paired para-carcinoma liver itssues from 78 HCC patients and in 12 normal liver tissues were detected by immunohistochemistry(SP method),and hTERT and PTEN mRNA expressions were analyzed by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction(RT-PCR).The relation between expressions of hTERT,PTEN gene and clinicopathologic parameters in patients with HCC was analysed.RESULTS: Expression of hTERT protein was mainly located in the liver cancer cell plasma,occasionally in cell nucleus.The positive rates of hTERT protein and hTERT mRNA in HCC were respectively 84.62%(66/78) and 78.21%(61/78) which were prominently higher than those in the paired para-carcinoma liver tissues which were 10.26%(8/78) and 8.97%(7/78),P0.01.The expression of PTEN protein was definitely located in cytoplasma of HCC.The positive rate of PTEN mRNA and PTEN protein in HCC was respectively 41.03%(32/78) and 43.59%(34/78),significantly lower than that in the corresponding para-carcinoma liver tissues 100.00%(78/78),P0.01.hTERT protein and hTERT mRNA were not found in normal liver tissues.Chi-square test and t-test analysis revealed that hTERT gene expression was carrelated with tumor clinical grade and stage,portal cancer embolus,HbsAg(+) and high AFP level(P0.05).There was a negative correlation between PTEN and hTERT gene expression in HCC(P0.05).CONCLUSIONS: hTERT gene expression may play an important role in the genesis and development of HCC.HTERT gene may serve as an important molecular-biological indicator in diagnosing and predicating the biological behavior of HCC.The significant negative correlation between the expressions of PTEN and hTERT gene indicates that the one of the approaches of hTERT activation and upregulation may be conferred by the loss of PTEN gene expression in HCC.