[Expression of heparanase mRNA and its clinical significance in primary hepatocellular carcinoma].
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the expression of heparanase mRNA and its relation with the clinicopathological features and angiogenesis in primary hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).


METHODS
Expression of heparanase mRNA was detected by RT-PCR in 51 HCC lesions, and microvessel density (MVD) was detected by immunohistochemical stain with a factor VIII-related monoclonal antibody.


RESULTS
Expression of heparanase mRNA was shown in 49.0% (25/51) HCC lesions. The positive rate of heparanase expression in tumors larger than 3 cm (63.6%, 21/33) was significantly higher than those in smaller tumors (22.2%, 4/18; P < 0.01). Heparanase expression was more frequent in highly invasive tumors (70.0%, 14/20) compared with moderately invasive tumors (46.7%, 7/15) and low invasive ones (25.0%, 4/16; P < 0.05). Moreover, heparanase expression in tumors with high MVD (62.5%, 20/32) was significantly higher than those in tumors with low MVD (26.3%, 5/19; P < 0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
Heparanase mRNA expression may be important for the growth, invasion and angiogenesis of hepatocellular carcinoma.
Zhang
You-lei
YL
Department of General Surgery, Changzheng Hospital, Second Military Medical University, Shanghai 200003, China.
Fu
Zhi-ren
ZR
Ding
Guo-shan
GS
Fu
Hong
H
Wang
Yuan-he
YH
Wang
Qiang
Q
D000328:Adult; D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000098:blood supply / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D005966:Glucuronidase / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics; D006801:Humans; D008099:Liver / Q000201:enzymology; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000098:blood supply / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008833:Microcirculation / Q000473:pathology; D008875:Middle Aged; D009361:Neoplasm Invasiveness; D009389:Neovascularization, Pathologic / Q000201:enzymology*; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics; D047368:Tumor Burden; D000099175:Heparanase
D005966:Glucuronidase; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D000099175:Heparanase