Expression of hTERT gene and the relation between hTERT gene and clinicopathologic parameters in HCC

Purpose:To investigate the expression of hTERT gene in human hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC) and to discuss its significance during hepatocellular carcinogenesis. Methods:Expression of hTERT protein in HCC and the paired para-carcinoma liver tissues from 62 HCC patients and in 8 normal liver tissues was detected by immunohistochemistry(SP method) and hTERT mRNA expression was analyzed by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction(RT-PCR).To analyse the relation between expression of hTERT gene and clinicopathologic parameters in patients with HCC. 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 hTERTmRNA in HCC were respectively 88.71%(55/62) and 82.26%(51/62) which were prominently higher than those in the paired para-carcinoma liver tissues i.e. 9.68%(6/62) and 6.45%(4/62) (P(0.01)). HTERT protein and hTERTmRNA cannot be found in normal liver tissues. Chi-square test and t-test analyses revealed that hTERT gene expression was correlated with tumor clinical grade and stage, portal cancer embolus, HbsAg(+) and high AFP level (P0.05). Conclusions:hTERT gene expression may play an important role in the genesis and development of HCC. HTERT gene may serve as an importment molecular-biological indicator in diagnosing and predicating the biological behavior of HCC.