title: Mutation of p53 in recurrent hepatocellular carcinoma and its association with the expression of ZBP-89.
abstract: p53 has recently been identified as a downstream target of ZBP-89, a zinc finger transcription factor. ZBP-89 promotes growth arrest through stabilization of the p53 protein. The aim of this study is to determine the status of the p53 gene in recurrent human hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and test the link between the expression of ZBP-89 and the p53 gene. The results showed that mutations in the p53 gene were frequently detected in recurrent HCC. The interval between surgical resection and the recurrence of HCC was significantly longer in patients with the wild-type p53 gene than those with mutations, strongly suggesting a pathological role for the mutant p53 gene in HCC recurrence. Among those positive for the p53 protein, nearly 85% (18 of 21) showed nuclear localization of the p53 protein while only about 14% (3 of 21) were positive for the p53 protein in the cytoplasm. ZBP-89 co-localized with p53 in the nucleus in about 67% (12 of 18) of all cases positive for the nuclear p53 protein, suggesting that ZBP-89 may play a role in the nuclear accumulation of the p53 protein in a subset of recurrent HCC. With accumulation of p53 protein in the nucleus, tumor cells undergo apoptosis and thus are more susceptible to radiotherapy and chemotherapy. Therefore, co-localization of p53 protein with ZBP-89 may define a subgroup of recurrent HCC that is more sensitive to treatment.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery and the Sir Y. K. Pao Center for Cancer, Prince of Wales Hospital, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, N.T., Hong Kong. gchen@ccuhk.edu.hk
authors.forename: George G
authors.initials: GG
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Juanita L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Merchant
authors.forename: Paul B S
authors.initials: PB
authors.lastname: Lai
authors.forename: Rocky L K
authors.initials: RL
authors.lastname: Ho
authors.forename: Xu
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Hu
authors.forename: Morihiro
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Okada
authors.forename: Sheng F
authors.initials: SF
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.forename: Albert K K
authors.initials: AK
authors.lastname: Chui
authors.forename: David J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Law
authors.forename: Yong G
authors.initials: YG
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Wan Y
authors.initials: WY
authors.lastname: Lau
authors.forename: Arthur K C
authors.initials: AK
authors.lastname: Li
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D002467:Cell Nucleus / Q000378:metabolism; D004252:DNA Mutational Analysis; D004273:DNA, Neoplasm / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015151:Immunoblotting; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009154:Mutation; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local; D011233:Precipitin Tests; D011485:Protein Binding; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000378:metabolism*; D016159:Tumor Suppressor Protein p53 / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D004273:DNA, Neoplasm; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; D014157:Transcription Factors; D016159:Tumor Suppressor Protein p53; C110951:ZNF148 protein, human