title: Over-expression of fibroblast growth factor receptor 3 in human hepatocellular carcinoma.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To describe the significant over-expression of fibroblast growth factor receptor 3 (FGFR3), which is a signal transduction and cell proliferation related gene in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).
  
  
  METHODS
  Following DNA microarray, Northern blot and quantitative real-time PCR were employed to confirm FGFR3 expression difference in HCC tissues and surrounding non-neoplastic liver tissue. FGFR3 expression levels were further determined by immunohistochemical study in 43 cases of HCC.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Northern blot results showed the significant over-expression of FGFR3 in HCC tissues, which was consistent with that from DNA microarray. Quantitative real-time PCR demonstrated that the mean ratio of FGFR3 mRNA to glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GADPH) mRNA in HCC tissue was 0.250, whereas the ratio in non-neoplastic liver tissue was 0.014. Statistical analyses of 43 cases of HCC revealed that HCC scored higher than the matched non-neoplastic liver tissues. Examination of clinicopathological features revealed a strong correlation of over-expression of FGFR3 with poor tumor differentiation and high nuclear grade.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Over-expression of FGFR3 may play an important role in liver carcinogenesis. FGFR3 may be an ideal candidate as a molecular marker in the diagnosis of HCC and a potential therapeutic target.
authors.affiliation: City of Hope National Medical Center, 1500 E. Duarte Road, Duarte, CA 91010, USA.
authors.forename: Wei-Hua
authors.initials: WH
authors.lastname: Qiu
authors.forename: Bing-Sen
authors.initials: BS
authors.lastname: Zhou
authors.forename: Peiguo-G
authors.initials: PG
authors.lastname: Chu
authors.forename: Wen-Gang
authors.initials: WG
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Christopher
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Chung
authors.forename: Jennifer
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Shih
authors.forename: Paul
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Hwu
authors.forename: Christopher
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Yeh
authors.forename: Richard
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Lopez
authors.forename: Yun
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Yen
mesh_terms: D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism / Q000503:physiopathology*; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D015972:Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism / Q000503:physiopathology*; D020411:Oligonucleotide Array Sequence Analysis; D011505:Protein-Tyrosine Kinases / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D051498:Receptor, Fibroblast Growth Factor, Type 3; D017468:Receptors, Fibroblast Growth Factor / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D017468:Receptors, Fibroblast Growth Factor; C496365:FGFR3 protein, human; D011505:Protein-Tyrosine Kinases; D051498:Receptor, Fibroblast Growth Factor, Type 3