Sensitive assay for detection of hepatocellular carcinoma associated gene transcription (alpha-fetoprotein mRNA) in blood.
The sensitivity of RT-PCR and nested RT-PCR for detection of circulating hepatocellular carcinoma was assessed by demonstrating the tumor cell-associated gene transcription, alpha-fetoprotein mRNA, in the nuclear cells of peripheral blood. When HepG2 cells were mixed in blood, 100-1000 tumor cells/5ml of blood could be detected by RT-PCR, in contrast to 1-10 tumor cells/5ml of blood by nested RT-PCR. In addition, 2 x 10(4) copies of AFP mRNA were found in one HepG2 cell when analyzed by the quantitative nested RT-PCR assay. Thus, the nested RT-PCR assay could provide a useful tool for detecting a tiny amount of circulating tumor cells in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma presenting extra-hepatic metastasis.
Matsumura
M
M
Second Department of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Tokyo, Japan.
Niwa
Y
Y
Hikiba
Y
Y
Okano
K
K
Kato
N
N
Shiina
S
S
Shiratori
Y
Y
Omata
M
M
D001483:Base Sequence; D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000097:blood*; D002460:Cell Line; D002467:Cell Nucleus / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D017931:DNA Primers; D015870:Gene Expression; D006801:Humans; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000097:blood*; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000379:methods*; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000032:analysis / Q000097:blood*; D012016:Reference Values; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D014158:Transcription, Genetic; D014407:Tumor Cells, Cultured; D000509:alpha-Fetoproteins / Q000096:biosynthesis*
D017931:DNA Primers; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D000509:alpha-Fetoproteins