Expression of oncogenes in human liver disease.
To elucidate the role of oncogene expression in hepatocarcinogenesis, we examined the expression of 8 cellular oncogenes by dot blot and/or northern blot analysis in neoplastic, cirrhotic and non-cirrhotic human liver tissues obtained at surgery. Significantly higher levels of c-myc gene expression were observed in tissues of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and adjacent cirrhotic tissues than in apparently normal liver tissues or those of chronic hepatitis (normal-chronic hepatitis). There was a tendency to higher c-myc mRNA levels in HCC than in liver cirrhosis. However, when tumorous and adjacent cirrhotic tissues from the same patient were compared, c-myc mRNA levels were not consistently higher in HCC. No significant differences in mRNA levels of c-fos, N-myc, N-ras, Ha-ras, c-erbA, c-erbB and c-abl were observed among the HCC, cirrhosis and normal-chronic hepatitis groups. Although the significance of increased c-myc gene expression in liver cirrhosis and HCC is still not known, it is conceivable that the persistent elevation of c-myc gene expression in cirrhosis contributes to the development of HCC.
Himeno
Y
Y
Department of Internal Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Kyoto University, Japan.
Fukuda
Y
Y
Hatanaka
M
M
Imura
H
H
D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000235:genetics*; D006801:Humans; D008099:Liver / Q000473:pathology; D008103:Liver Cirrhosis / Q000235:genetics; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics*; D009857:Oncogenes; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics; D012334:RNA, Neoplasm / Q000302:isolation & purification
D012333:RNA, Messenger; D012334:RNA, Neoplasm