title: Heparanase mRNA expression and point mutation in hepatocellular carcinoma.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To explore the expression of heparanase mRNA and point mutation in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).
  
  
  METHODS
  Reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction was used to measure the expression of heparanase mRNA in the primary tumor tissues and surrounding liver tissues of 33 HCC patients. T-A cloning and sequencing were used to detect whether there was any mutation in the amplified PCR products.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The expression of heparanase mRNA was positive in 16 primary tumor tissues of HCC, and the positive rate was 48.5%, which was significantly higher than that in the surrounding liver parenchyma (P<0.01). The positive rate for heparanase gene in high-tendency to metastatic recurrence group (71.4%, 10/14) was obviously higher than that in low-tendency to metastatic recurrence group (31.6%, 6/19) (P = 0.023). The positive rate for heparanase gene in patients with metastatic recurrence during postoperative follow-up (78.6%, 11/14) was also significantly higher than that in those without metastatic recurrence (21.4%, 3/14) (P = 0.003). Sequence analysis of the HPA PCR products was made in 7 patients, and 2-point mutations were found in 4 patients, one of which was sense mutation, neither base insertion nor deletion was detected. The mutation rate was 57.1% (4/7).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The expression rate of heparanase mRNA increases in HCC, and HPA mRNA may be one of the reliable markers for the metastatic activity gained by the liver tumor cells and could be used clinically in predicting metastatic recurrence of HCC. Point mutation may be one of the causes for enhanced heparanase mRNA expression.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Affilicated Yijishan Hospital, Wannan Medical College, Wuhu 241001, Anhui Province, China. drcxp@sohu.com
authors.forename: Xiao-Peng
authors.initials: XP
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Yin-Bib
authors.initials: YB
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Jing
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Rui
authors.forename: Shu-You
authors.initials: SY
authors.lastname: Peng
authors.forename: Cheng-Hong
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Peng
authors.forename: Zi-Yan
authors.initials: ZY
authors.lastname: Zhou
authors.forename: Liang-Hui
authors.initials: LH
authors.lastname: Shi
authors.forename: Hong-Wei
authors.initials: HW
authors.lastname: Shen
authors.forename: Bin
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Xu
mesh_terms: D001483:Base Sequence; D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000201:enzymology / Q000235:genetics* / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D005260:Female; D005966:Glucuronidase / Q000235:genetics*; D006801:Humans; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000201:enzymology / Q000235:genetics* / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D008297:Male; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D017354:Point Mutation / Q000235:genetics*; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics*; D012008:Recurrence; D014158:Transcription, Genetic / Q000235:genetics; D000099175:Heparanase
chemical_list: D005966:Glucuronidase; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D000099175:Heparanase