Expression and significance of new tumor suppressor gene PTEN in primary liver cancer.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate expression and significance of PTEN gene in primary hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).


METHODS
Immunohistochemical peroxidase-conjugated streptavidin (SP) method was used to detect expression of PTEN gene in 120 cases of primary HCC and its adjacent tissue 10 cases of normal liver tissue. The relationship between expression of tumor suppressor gene of PTEN and the percentage of lymph node metastasis of HCC was analyzed.


RESULTS
It was shown that PTEN gene was expressed in all 10 cases of normal liver tissues and paracancerous liver tissues. The staining was localized mainly in cytoplasm. Expression of PTEN in 120 cases of HCC were as follows: 12.5% were negative, 17.5% were weak positive, and 70% were strong positive. At time of diagnosis, 33/120 (27.5%) presented lymph node metastasis. Lymph node metastases were present in 80% (12 out of 15) PTEN negative HCC, 57.14% (12 out of 21) PTEN weak positive HCC and only 10.71% (9 out of 84) PTEN intense positive HCC, (P<0.05). Therefore, PTEN tumor suppressor gene malfunction seems to be involved in metastasing capacity of HCC.


CONCLUSIONS
This study suggests that PTEN gene was deleted or weakly expressed in primary hepatocellular carcinoma, which is probably related to its tumorigenesis.
Dong-Dong
Lu
L
The College of Life Science, Nanjing Normal University, Nanjing, China [corrected]. ludondon88@163.com
Xi-Ran
Zhang
Z
Xiang-Rong
Cao
C
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology / Q000556:secondary; D005260:Female; D016147:Genes, Tumor Suppressor; D006801:Humans; D008099:Liver / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D008198:Lymph Nodes / Q000473:pathology; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D051059:PTEN Phosphohydrolase; D010744:Phosphoric Monoester Hydrolases / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D025521:Tumor Suppressor Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*
D025521:Tumor Suppressor Proteins; D010744:Phosphoric Monoester Hydrolases; D051059:PTEN Phosphohydrolase; C494929:PTEN protein, human