[Screening low molecular weight protein biomarkers relevant to portal vein tumor thrombi in serum of patients with hepatocellular carcinoma].
OBJECTIVE
To screen low molecular weight protein biomarkers relevant to portal vein tumor thrombi (PVTT) in serum of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) patients.


METHODS
Serum samples were obtained from 12 healthy volunteers, 12 HCC patients without PVTT and 12 HCC patients with PVTT. Using two-dimensional gel electrophoresis (2-DE) in which the second dimension was 16% SDS-PAGE, serum protein images of the 3 groups were analyzed by ImageMaster software. The differential protein spots were further identified by MALDI-TOF MS/MS.


RESULTS
Comparing the results using 12.5% SDS-PAGE gel, there were more protein bands (between 3 x 10(3) and 20 x 10(3)) and low molecular weight (MW) protein spots (less than 20 x 10(3)) were clearly shown in the 16% SDS-PAGE gel. Fifteen differential protein spots representing 5 proteins were found in the 3 groups by inter-class comparison and they were then identified. Compared with those in the healthy group, apolipoprotein A-I, lipoprotein CIII, transthyretin and DNA topoisomerase II were all down regulated in HCC groups and haptoglobin-2 was over expressed. All 5 proteins decreased more in the PVTT group than in the non-PVTT group.


CONCLUSIONS
The expression of low MW serum protein obviously changes in the beginning and in the progressive stage of HCC, and differentially expressed low MW proteins might be potential biomarkers in an early prognostic prediction and surveillance in the treatment for HCC and PVTT.
Liver Cancer Institute and Department of Liver Surgery, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, China.
Ji-gang
JG
Qiu
Jia
J
Fan
Yin-kun
YK
Liu
Jian
J
Zhou
Shuang-jian
SJ
Qiu
Zhi
Z
Dai
Xiao-nan
XN
Kang
Cheng
C
Huang
Peng-yuan
PY
Yang
Zhao-you
ZY
Tang
D000328:Adult; D001798:Blood Proteins / Q000032:analysis*; D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000097:blood / Q000473:pathology*; D015180:Electrophoresis, Gel, Two-Dimensional / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009360:Neoplastic Cells, Circulating / Q000473:pathology*; D011169:Portal Vein / Q000473:pathology*; D020543:Proteome / Q000032:analysis
D001798:Blood Proteins; D020543:Proteome