[Detection of alpha-fetoproteins mRNA and melanoma antigen-1 mRNA in peripheral blood of patients with hepatocellular carcinoma and its clinical significance].
OBJECTIVE
To explore the feasibility of alpha-fetoproteins (alpha-FP) mRNA and melanoma antigen-1 (MAGE-1) mRNA as 2 markers of micrometastasis in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) patients' peripheral blood.


METHODS
Subjects were divided into five groups: patients with HCC (n=65); patients with hepatitisB and liver cirrhosis (n=22); patients with metastatic liver cancer (n=12); patients with hepatic hemangioma (n=12); and healthy volunteers (n=20). alpha-FP mRNA and MAGE-1 mRNA in peripheral blood were tested by nested reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR).


RESULTS
MAGE-1 mRNA and alpha-FP mRNA were detected in 27 (42%) and 35 (54%) of 65 HCC patients respectively, while 42 (65%) HCC patients were positive for at least 1 marker. The frequency of alpha-FP mRNA and MAGE-1 mRNA positivity strongly correlated with portal thrombosis, intrahepatic metastatic nodules, tumor diameter and TNM stage (P <0.05). With regard to controls, 4 of 12 (33%) samples from patients with metastatic liver cancer showed MAGE-1 mRNA in their peripheral blood, but groups of hepatitis and cirrhosis, hepatic hemangioma, healthy volunteers did not. And 3 of 22 samples (14%) from group hepatitis and cirrhosis showed alpha-FP mRNA, but none of samples from other control group showed alpha-FP mRNA.


CONCLUSIONS
Nested RT-PCR is a sensitive and reliable method for detecting circulating HCC cells. Two-marker RT-PCR assay with a liver-specific alpha-FP marker in combination with a cancer-specific MAGE-1 marker may be a promising tool for detecting micrometastases with better sensitivity and specificity than one marker RT-PCR.
Yang
Shi-zhong
SZ
Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, Institute of Hepatobiliary Surgery, First Affiliated Hospital, Third Military Medical University, Chongqing 400038, China.
Dong
Jia-hong
JH
Zhu
Jin
J
Li
Kun
K
Zhang
Yu
Y
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000951:Antigens, Neoplasm / Q000097:blood* / Q000235:genetics; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000097:blood* / Q000235:genetics; D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000097:blood* / Q000556:secondary; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000097:blood* / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D058950:Melanoma-Specific Antigens; D008875:Middle Aged; D009362:Neoplasm Metastasis; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins / Q000097:blood* / Q000235:genetics; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000097:blood; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D000509:alpha-Fetoproteins / Q000032:analysis* / Q000235:genetics
D000951:Antigens, Neoplasm; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; C072011:MAGEA1 protein, human; D058950:Melanoma-Specific Antigens; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D000509:alpha-Fetoproteins