Analysis of alpha-fetoprotein mRNA level on the tumor cell hematogenous spread of patients with hepatocellular carcinoma undergoing orthotopic liver transplantation.
The aim of this study was to detect alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) mRNA levels in the preoperative and intraoperative peripheral blood of patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) receiving orthotopic liver transplantation (OLT).


METHODS
We detected AFP mRNA by TaqMan real-time reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reactions (RT-PCR) on the peripheral blood cells (PBCs) from 30 HCC patients undergoing OLT.


RESULTS
In RT-PCR, fluorescence was undetectable in any control. The positive expression rate of AFP mRNA was 23% (7 of 30) in PBC samples of OLT patients preoperatively and 50% (15 of 30) just before hepatectomy during the operation. The positive rate of AFP mRNA in OLT patients at this time was higher than that at preoperation, a difference that was statistically significant (P < .01).


CONCLUSIONS
The OLT operation induced release of cells from the liver into the peripheral blood circulation. This may be an important mechanism of liver cancer cell dissemination deserving further investigation.
Wang
Y-L
YL
Department of Immunology, Tianjin Medical University, and Tianjin Institute of Thrombosis and Hemostasis, Organ Transplantation Center of Tianjin First Central Hospital, Tianjin, China. wang_yu_l@yahoo.com.cn
Li
G
G
Wu
D
D
Liu
Y-W
YW
Yao
Z
Z
D000328:Adult; D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000235:genetics* / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D017931:DNA Primers; D006801:Humans; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics* / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D016031:Liver Transplantation; D008875:Middle Aged; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics*; D000509:alpha-Fetoproteins / Q000032:analysis / Q000235:genetics*
D017931:DNA Primers; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D000509:alpha-Fetoproteins