Clinical application of quantitative analysis for detection of hematogenous spread of hepatocellular carcinoma by real-time PCR.
In order to detect a hematogenous spread of tumor cells in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma, reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction assay has been used. In this study, we quantified alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) messenger RNA by real-time PCR approach using LightCyclertrade mark technique. AFP messenger RNA in the blood from 23 hepatocellular carcinoma patients undergoing hepatic resection, 31 healthy volunteers, 10 patients with liver cirrhosis and 5 patients underwent hepatectomy except for hepatocellular carcinoma was quantitated. In the real-time PCR, fluorescence was undetectable in any of the controls. On the contrary, fluorescent signals were detected in 10 out of 39 blood specimens collected from 23 HCC patients. AFP-positive status was significantly associated with the existence of multiple intrahepatic nodules. Out of 8 cases with AFP-positive status, intra- and/or extra-hepatic recurrence has been observed in 3 cases. The quantities of AFP messenger RNA in these 3 cases were relatively high among 8 cases with AFP-positive status. AFP messenger RNA was detectable by newly developed real-time PCR approach with LightCycler and it is suggested that this approach could be applicable in detection of small amounts of tumor cells in the blood of HCC patients.
Miyamoto
A
A
Department of Surgery and Clinical Oncology, Osaka University Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka, Japan.
Nagano
H
H
Sakon
M
M
Fujiwara
Y
Y
Sugita
Y
Y
Eguchi
H
H
Kondo
M
M
Arai
I
I
Morimoto
O
O
Dono
K
K
Umeshita
K
K
Nakamori
S
S
Monden
M
M
D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000235:genetics*; D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000235:genetics*; D017931:DNA Primers / Q000737:chemistry; D006801:Humans; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000235:genetics*; D009361:Neoplasm Invasiveness; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D009360:Neoplastic Cells, Circulating / Q000737:chemistry; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000032:analysis*; D000509:alpha-Fetoproteins / Q000235:genetics*
D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D017931:DNA Primers; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D000509:alpha-Fetoproteins