title: Let-7c microRNA expression and clinical significance in hepatocellular carcinoma.
abstract: MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are small non-coding regulatory RNAs that are often dysregulated during carcinogenesis. Downregulation of let-7 miRNA in many human cancers indicates its role in tumourigenesis. This study evaluated the levels of let-7c miRNA, using real-time reverse  transcription-polymerase chain reaction, between 32 hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) tissues and matched normal adjacent tumour tissues within the context of the patient's clinical pathology. Levels of let-7c miRNA were significantly lower in HCC tissues than in corresponding normal  adjacent tumour tissues and there was a correlation between the downregulation of let-7c and poor tissue differentiation in HCC. There was no correlation between let-7c miRNA levels and other clinicopathological factors, such as patient age, sex, hepatitis B virus status, α-fetoprotein  levels, tumour size, tumour number, the presence of cirrhosis, liver envelope invasion or portal vein thrombosis. These data suggested that let-7c microRNA may play a role in regulating HCC cell differentiation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgical Oncology, The First Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China.
authors.forename: X-M
authors.initials: XM
authors.lastname: Zhu
authors.forename: L-J
authors.initials: LJ
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Xu
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: F-S
authors.initials: FS
authors.lastname: Wu
mesh_terms: D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000235:genetics* / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D015972:Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic; D006801:Humans; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics* / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D035683:MicroRNAs / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D008875:Middle Aged
chemical_list: D035683:MicroRNAs; C487931:mirnlet7 microRNA, human