title: Expressions of cysteine-rich61, connective tissue growth factor and Nov genes in hepatocellular carcinoma and their clinical significance.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the expression of cysteine-rich61 (Cyr61), connective tissue growth factor (CTGF) and nephroblastoma overexpressed gene (Nov) in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), and to evaluate the relationship between Cyr61, CTGF and Nov genes expression with invasion and metastasis of HCC.
  
  
  METHODS
  Thirty-one HCC specimens were divided into small hepatocellular carcinoma (SHCC), nodular hepatocellular carcinoma (NHCC), solitary large hepatocellular carcinoma (SLHCC) according to their diameter and number of nodes. Reverse transcription polymerse chain reaction (RT-PCR) was used to detect the mRNA expression levels of Cyr61, CTGF and Nov genes in 31 resected specimens of hepatocellular carcinoma and para-cancerous normal liver tissues semi-quantitatively and the relation between their expression levels and clinical pathological parameters were compared.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The expressions of Cyr61 and CTGF mRNA in carcinoma tissues were significantly higher than those in para-cancerous normal liver tissues (P<0.01). The expressions of Cyr61 and CTGF mRNA in HCC with venous invasion were higher than those in HCC without venous invasion. CTGF expression in HCC Edmondson's grade III-IV was significantly higher than that in HCC Edmondson's grade I-II (P = 0.022). There was no obvious correlation between Nov mRNA and clinical-pathological features. Compared to NHCC, SLHCC had better cell differentiation, easier capsule formation, less microscopic venous invasion, milder liver cirrhosis. The expressions of Cyr61 and CTGF mRNA in NHCC were significantly higher than those in SLHCC and SHCC.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Cyr61 and CTGF genes may play an important role in hepatocellular carcinogenesis and correlate with recurrence and metastasis of hepatocellular carcinoma. SLHCC has better biological behaviors than NHCC.
authors.affiliation: Liver Cancer Laboratory, Department of Surgery, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha 410008, Hunan Province, China.
authors.forename: Zhi-Jun
authors.initials: ZJ
authors.lastname: Zeng
authors.forename: Lian-Yue
authors.initials: LY
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: Xiang
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Ding
authors.forename: Wei
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Wang
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000235:genetics / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D055513:Connective Tissue Growth Factor; D055515:Cysteine-Rich Protein 61; D005260:Female; D015972:Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic; D006801:Humans; D017874:Immediate-Early Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D036341:Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D008099:Liver / Q000473:pathology / Q000502:physiology; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D055514:Nephroblastoma Overexpressed Protein; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000032:analysis
chemical_list: C501848:CCN1 protein, human; C526317:CCN2 protein, human; C526319:CCN3 protein, human; D055515:Cysteine-Rich Protein 61; D017874:Immediate-Early Proteins; D036341:Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins; D055514:Nephroblastoma Overexpressed Protein; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D055513:Connective Tissue Growth Factor