Specific gene-expression profiles of noncancerous liver tissue predict the risk for multicentric occurrence of hepatocellular carcinoma in hepatitis C virus-positive patients.
BACKGROUND
Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection produces chronic hepatitis, cirrhosis, and, ultimately, hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). A molecular analysis of the damaged liver tissues infected with HCV may identify specific gene-expression profiles associated with a risk for liver carcinogenesis.


METHODS
Forty patients with HCV-positive HCC were classified into two groups: single nodular HCC group (n = 28) and multicentric HCC group (n = 12). Using a complementary DNA microarray, we compared the gene-expression patterns of the noncancerous liver tissue specimens between the two groups. We also identified the differentially expressed genes related to multicentric recurrence in the liver remnant. We then evaluated whether a specific gene-expression profile can accurately estimate the risk for multicentric hepatocarcinogenesis.


RESULTS
We selected the 230 differentially expressed genes in the multicentric HCC group. A hierarchical clustering analysis identified a cluster that might be closely associated with the multicentric occurrence of HCC. On the basis of the gene-expression profiling of the 36 genes commonly associated with both multicentric HCC and multicentric recurrence, we created a scoring system to estimate the risk for multicentric hepatocarcinogenesis. The prediction score of patients in the multicentric HCC group with multicentric recurrence (19.9 +/- 9.2) was significantly higher (P < .05) than that in the single nodular HCC group without multicentric recurrence (-1.8 +/- 12.7).


CONCLUSIONS
Specific gene-expression signatures in noncancerous liver tissue may help to accurately predict the risk for developing HCC.
Okamoto
Masahiro
M
Department of Molecular and Surgical Oncology, Medical Institute of Bioregulation, Kyushu University, Tsurumihara 4546, Beppu, 874-0838, Japan.
Utsunomiya
Tohru
T
Wakiyama
Shigeki
S
Hashimoto
Masaji
M
Fukuzawa
Kengo
K
Ezaki
Takahiro
T
Hanai
Taizo
T
Inoue
Hiroshi
H
Mori
Masaki
M
D000368:Aged; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000235:genetics; D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000235:genetics* / Q000821:virology; D016000:Cluster Analysis; D018450:Disease Progression; D005260:Female; D020869:Gene Expression Profiling; D015972:Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic / Q000502:physiology*; D016174:Hepacivirus / Q000302:isolation & purification; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000235:genetics* / Q000821:virology; D006801:Humans; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics* / Q000821:virology; D008297:Male; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D020411:Oligonucleotide Array Sequence Analysis; D012307:Risk Factors
D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins