[Relationship between the expression of PTEN protein and phosphorylation of MAPK in hepatocellular carcinomas and their surrounding liver tissues].
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the relationship between the expression of phosphatase and tensin homolog deleted on chromosome ten(PTEN) protein and phosphorylation of mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) in hepatocellular carcinomas (HCC) and their surrounding liver tissues.


METHODS
The expression of PTEN and the phosphorylation of MAPK were detected by the SP immunohistochemical technique in 75 cases of HCC and their pericarcinomatous tissues.


RESULTS
The positive rate (62.7%) and the expression intensity of PTEN in HCC were lower and weaker than those in the pericarcinomatous liver tissues (89.3%)(P < 0.01), and the expression level of PTEN was significantly related to the differentiation degree of HCC. The poorer the differentiation of HCC, the weaker the expression of PTEN protein. The positive rate (85.3%) and the expression intensity of p42/44MAPK in HCC were higher and stronger than those in the pericarcinomatous liver tissues (34.7%)(P < 0.01), and the expression intensity of p42/44MAPK was not related to the differentiation degree of HCC. A significant negative relationship was observed between the expression intensity of PTEN protein and the phosphorylation level of MAPK in HCC and their surrounding liver tissues.


CONCLUSIONS
The decrease or deletion of PTEN protein expression may not be able to effectively inhibit the over-activation of Ras/Raf/MAPK signaling pathway, and this will result in abnormal proliferation and malignant transformation of hepatocytes in hepatocellular carcinogenesis.
Feng
De-yun
DY
Department of Pathology, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha 410078, China.
Cheng
Rui-xue
RX
Zheng
Hui
H
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000737:chemistry*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000737:chemistry*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D020929:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase Kinases / Q000378:metabolism*; D051059:PTEN Phosphohydrolase; D010744:Phosphoric Monoester Hydrolases / Q000032:analysis*; D010766:Phosphorylation; D015398:Signal Transduction; D025521:Tumor Suppressor Proteins / Q000032:analysis*
D025521:Tumor Suppressor Proteins; D020929:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase Kinases; D010744:Phosphoric Monoester Hydrolases; D051059:PTEN Phosphohydrolase; C494929:PTEN protein, human