[Postoperative detection of AFP mRNA in the peripheral blood of hepatic cellular carcinoma patients and its correlation with recurrence].
OBJECTIVE
The postoperative presence of alpha-fetoprotien (AFP) mRNA in the peripheral blood of patient with hepatic cellular carcinoma (HCC) may suggest that carcinomatous cells still exist in the peripheral blood which may someday develop into metastasis. Therefore, the expression of AFP mRNA in postoperative peripheral blood is detected and its correlation with recurrence of HCC is investingated.


METHODS
AFP mRNA in peripheral blood of HCC patients and non-hepatic cellular carcinoma patients treated by partial hepatectomy on the first, 7th, 14th postoperative day was examined by means of RT-PCR/ Southern blot. All HCC patients were followed up for 36 months.


RESULTS
Of the 29 HCC patients, 18 (62.1%) had recurrence, and 17 (58.6%) was found to have AFP mRNA expression in peripheral blood during postoperative period. Fourteen of these 17 patients (82.4%) with positive AFP mRNA expression developed recurrence, but only 4 patients (33.3%) with negative AFP mRNA expression had recurrence. The difference between two groups was statistically significant (P < 0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
Our preliminary results suggest that detection of AFP mRNA during postoperative period may be helpful in predicting recurrence for hepatic cellular carcinoma.
Zhi
Hui
H
Department of Ultrasound, Second Hospital, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou 510120, China. kendy181hui@yahoo.com.cn
Zhan
Jun
J
Deng
Qing-Li
QL
Huang
Zhi-Ming
ZM
D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000235:genetics / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006498:Hepatectomy; D006801:Humans; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local; D011184:Postoperative Period; D011379:Prognosis; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000097:blood / Q000235:genetics; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D000509:alpha-Fetoproteins / Q000235:genetics*
D012333:RNA, Messenger; D000509:alpha-Fetoproteins