[Expression of genes related to Sonic Hedgehog signaling in human hepatocellular carcinomas].
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the expression status of Sonic Hedgehog signaling genes and molecules in human hepatocellular carcinomas(HCC), and to explore the relationship between these genes and clinical prognosis.


METHODS
HCC tissue and adjacent normal tissue from 29 HCC patients were assayed for the expression of hedgehog signaling genes by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction chain reaction (RT-PCR) techniques and for the expression of hedgehog signaling molecules by immunohistochemistry. The expressions of Shh, Ptch, Smoh, Gli-1 mRNA were assayed as well as Shh, Ptch proteins in 29 cases of HCC and in 29 liver tissues adjacent to the tumor.


RESULTS
Expression of Shh mRNA was detectable in about 51% of HCCs examined. Consistent with this, hedgehog target genes Ptch, Smoh and Gli-1 mRNA were expressed in over 68%, 48% and 62% of the tumors, respectively, and the expressions of Shh and Ptch proteins in HCC tumor tissues correlated with those of Shh and Ptch mRNA in tumor tissues (P=0.041 and P=0.035). This suggested that the hedgehog pathway was frequently activated in HCCs. The simultaneous expression of Gli-1 in HCC and liver tissues adjacent to the tumor had significantly relationship with poor prognosis.


CONCLUSIONS
Hedgehog signaling activation is an important event for development of human HCCs. It also suggests that markers for hedgehog signaling activation may be useful for the determination of prognosis.
Che
Li
L
Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Translational Research (Ministry of Education), Department of Medical Oncology, Beijing Cancer Hospital & Institute, Peking University School of Oncology, Beijing, China.
Ren
Jun
J
Yuan
Yan Hua
YH
Jia
Jun
J
Di
Li Jun
LJ
Song
Guo Hong
GH
Yu
Jing
J
Wang
Xiao Li
XL
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D053823:Hedgehog Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011379:Prognosis; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000502:physiology*
D053823:Hedgehog Proteins; D012333:RNA, Messenger