Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is one of the most common and
aggressive human
malignancies. Its high mortality rate is mainly a result of intra-hepatic
metastases. To investigate the
detailed genetic mechanisms in cancer metastasis, we compared the expression
pro?les of 20 HCCs
with intrahepatic metastasis and 10 HCCs without intrahepatic metastasis
using an oligonucleotide
array. Of the approximately 12600 genes that were analyzed, we identi?ed
34 genes whose expression
levels were signi?cantly correlated with intrahepatic metastasis (PH0:05).
Of these genes, we further
investigated the expression of high-mobility group I(Y) [HMG-I(Y)] protein.
Real-time quantitative
reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) con?rmed that
HMG-I(Y) was upregulated
in HCC with intrahepatic metastasis, compared to its level in HCC without
intrahepatic
metastasis. Further immunohistochemical examination of HMG-I(Y) revealed
a signi?cant overexpression
in HCC with intrahepatic metastasis, compared with that in HCC without
intrahepatic
metastasis (PH0:05). These results indicate that the molecular signatures
of HCC with intrahepatic
metastasis and of HCC without intrahepatic metastasis are clearly different.
HMG-I(Y) expression was
associated with intrahepatic metastasis and may be a predictive marker
of HCC intrahepatic metastasis.
(Keio J Med 53 (2): 90?97, June 2004) |