title: Analysis of N-ras gene mutation and p53 gene expression in human hepatocellular carcinomas.
abstract: AIM:To study the relationship between N-ras gene mutation and p53 gene expression in the carcinogenesis and the development of human hepatocellular carcinomas (HCC).METHODS:The N-ras gene mutation and the p53 gene expression were analyzed in 29 cases of HCC by polymerase chain reaction-single strand conformation polymorphism (PCR-SSCP) and immunohistochemistry.RESULTS:Thirteen cases of HCCs were p53 positive (44.8%), which showed a rather high Cpercen-tage of p53 gene mutation in Guangxi. The aberrations at N-ras codon 2-37 were found in 79.31% of HCCs and 80.77% of adjacent non-tumorous liver tissues. More than 2 point mutations of N-ras gene were observed in 22 cases (75.86%). Twelve cases (41.37%) of HCCs showed both N-ras gene mutation and p53 gene expression.CONCLUSION:N-ras gene and p53 gene may be involved in the carcinogenesis and the development of HCC.That 38% of HCCs with N-ras gene mutation did not express p53 protein indicates that some other genes or factors may participate in the carcinogenesis and the development of HCC.
authors.forename: Dan
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Luo
authors.forename: Qi-Fu
authors.initials: QF
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Gove
authors.forename: NV
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Naomov
authors.forename: Jian-Jia
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Su
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Williams