[Perioperative detection of MAGE-1mRNA and AFP mRNA in peripheral blood of patients with hepatocellular carcinoma: relationships with recurrence].
OBJECTIVE
To detect MAGE-1 mRNA and AFP mRNA in the peripheral blood of patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) perioperatively, and explore their relationships with recurrence.


METHODS
Peripheral blood from 45 patients with HCC, obtained perioperatively, was tested for the presence of MAGE-1 mRNA and AFP mRNA by nested RT-PCR. All patients were followed for metastatic recurrence for average 11 months after surgery. The peripheral blood from 22 patients with hepatitis B and cirrhosis, 11 patients with hepatic hemangioma, 12 patients with metastatic liver cancer and 20 healthy volunteers served as control.


RESULTS
Four of the twelve (33.3%) metastatic hepatic cancer patients were positive for MAGE-1 mRNA, and three of the twenty-two (13.6%) patients with hepatitis B and cirrhosis were positive for AFP mRNA while the other controls kept negative in their peripheral blood. Detection rates for MAGE-1 mRNA/AFP mRNA in the peripheral blood of patients with HCC were 42.2%/51.1% before operation, 20%/24.4% seven days after surgery, and 15.6%/22.2% 28 days later respectively. In chi-square analysis, detection of peripheral-blood MAGE-1 mRNA and AFP mRNA 28 days after surgery indicated metastatic recurrence. Furthermore, the two-marker detection had a higher specificity for prediction of metastatic recurrence than single marker detection.


CONCLUSIONS
Combined detection of cancer-specific MAGE-1 mRNA and hepatocyte-specific AFP mRNA by nested RT-PCR in the peripheral blood of patients with HCC 28 days after surgery may be useful for the prediction of metastatic recurrence.
Yang
Shi-zhong
SZ
Institute of Hepatobiliary Surgery & Southwest Hospital, Southwest 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; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000097:blood; D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000097:blood* / Q000601:surgery; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000097:blood* / Q000601:surgery; D008297:Male; D058950:Melanoma-Specific Antigens; D008875:Middle Aged; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins / Q000097:blood* / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / Q000097:blood*; D011184:Postoperative Period; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000097:blood; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D000509:alpha-Fetoproteins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism
D000951:Antigens, Neoplasm; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; C072011:MAGEA1 protein, human; D058950:Melanoma-Specific Antigens; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D000509:alpha-Fetoproteins