Study On The Expression Of Suppressor Gene Pten In Relation To Primary Human Hepatocellular Carcinoma

Objective To investigate the potential correlation between the expression of PTEN in primary human hepatocellular carcinoma and the expression of pl6,clinicopathological parameters. Methods The specimens from 43 cases of HCC were collected to detect PTEN and PI6 expression by immunohistochemical staining in formalin fixed paraffin-embedded sections.Result In the 43 cases specimens,the rates of negative staining of PTEN in tumor tissures and adjacent tissures were 33%(14/43) and 2.3%(l/43) respectively,there was a significant difference between the two groups(p<0.01).there were high negative rates(62.50% and 100%) of PTEN expression in poorly differentiated (grade III and IV) HCC specimens and low negative rates(0% and 7.14%) in well differentiated (grade I and II) HCC specimens(r=-0.594 p<0.01), we also find out by statistical analysis that reduced PTEN expression was correlated with advanced tumor stages(r=-0.478 p<0.01), HBV infection (p<0.05),metastasis of HCC(p<0.01),higher serum AFP levels (p<0.05) and reduced expression of P16(r=0.362 p<0.05),but did not show correlation to other parameters that were measured in this study,including sex ,age and size of tumors(p>0.05).Furthermore,compare with negative expression of PTEN protein ,these patients with positive expression had higher survival rates after surgery(p<0.05).Conclusion (1) These is a higher frequency of negative expression of PTEN protein in hepatocellular carcinoma,the negative correlation between expression of PTEN gene and differential grade, clinic stage of HCC indicated that inactivation of PTEN gene may be a late incidence in the development of hepatocellular carcinoma and may play an important role in the genesis and development of some hepatocellular carcinoma.(2)Reduced PTEN expression was correlated to patients with HCC who had metastasis or higher AFP levels.(3)There maybe a co-operativity among inactivation of PTEN gene and P16 gene, infection of HBV. (4)The expression of PTEN gene could serve as one of indictators for judging the prognosis of HCC after surgery.