The research in expression of PTEN gene and correlation factor HIF-1α during development of hepatocellular carcinoma

Objective:To investigate the relationship between the expression of PTEN gene and HIF-1α and the development of hepatocellular carcinoma.Methods:The expression of PTEN mRNA in 37 HCC and non-cancerous liver tissues were detected by RTPCR,and the relative amount of PTEN was analyzed with gel scan system.Simultaneously,the expression and cellular distribution of PTEN and HIF-1α in hepatic tissues were measured by immunohistochemistry.Results:The expression rate of PTEN mRNA in HCC was 48.65%(18/37),lower than that in normal tissues significantly(P0.001).The positive expression rate of PTEN protein in hepatoma tissues(37.84%) was lower than that in normal ones obviously and the expression levels were weaker.By contraries,the expression rate of HIF-1α in HCC was 97.30% and the expression levels were stronger.There was a certain negative correlation between PTEN and HIF-1α in HCC.Conclusions:The loss or down-regulation of PTEN gene would lead to the over-expression of HIF-1α in hepatoma and that would be associated with the development of HCC.