DETECTION IN SITU OF PROAPOPTOSIS GENE bax IN HEPATOCELLULAR CARCINOMA AND ITS SIGNIFICANCE

Objective To study the expression of proapoptosis gene bax in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and its clinical significance. [WT5”HZ]Methods [WT5”BZ]The protein expression levels of bax were determined by immunohistochemistry with Envision system; bax mRNA was detected by in situ hybridizition. [WT5”HZ]Results [WT5”BZ]Using immunohistochemistry and in situ hybridizition method, bax protein was detectable in 47.50% of HCC and in 78.57% of cirrhosis ( P 0.05); there was significant relationship between bax expression and grades of differentiation, between bax expression and clinical stages, and between bax expression and AFP levels ( P 0.05, P 0.01, respectively). However, they were no statistical difference between the male and female or the old and young patient ( P 0.05, respectively). The expression of bax mRNA by in situ hybridizition were corresponding to immunohistochemistry, and there were no statistical difference between them. [WT5”HZ]Conclusion [WT5”BZ]Proapoptotic gene bax participates partially apoptosis regulation in HCC, the expressions show some correlation with grades, clinical stages and levels of AFP.