[Expression of liver-intestine cadherin and its significance in hepatocellular carcinoma].
OBJECTIVE
To explore the expression and clinical significance of LI (liver-intestine)-cadherin mRNA and protein expression level in hepatocellular carcinoma.


METHODS
Reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and immunohistochemical techniques were used to detect the expression of the LI-cadherin mRNA and protein in 56 cases of hepatocellular carcinoma, 44 cases of corresponding paracancerous tissues and 9 cases of normal liver tissues. The relationships with its clinicopathological characteristics were analyzed.


RESULTS
The mRNA of LI-cadherin was expressed in 56 cases of hepatocellular carcinoma tissues and 44 cases of corresponding paracancerous tissues. But its expression was not detected in normal tissues. Semiquantitative analysis showed that the mRNA expression level of LI-caherin was greater in hepatocellular carcinoma tissues than that in corresponding paracancerous tissues (0.653 ± 0.147 vs 0.534 ± 0.138). The differences were statistically significant (P < 0.01). The positive rates of LI-cadherin protein were 64.29% (36/56) in hepatocellular carcinoma tissues, 22.73% (10/44) in paracancerous tissues and 0% (0/9) in normal tissues.


CONCLUSIONS
The expression of LI-cadherin is up-regulated significantly in HCC. The over-expression of LI-cadherin protein is correlated with the lymph node metastasis and tumor thrombi in portal vein. It indicates that LI-cadherin may play an important role in the progression and metastasis of HCC.
Department of General Surgery & Department of Infectious Diseasesa, First Affiliated Hospital, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou 450052, China.
Zheng-Jun
ZJ
Fan
Xiang-Jie
XJ
Fang
Jia-Xiang
JX
Wang
Jian-Feng
JF
Xue
Yan
Y
Zhang
D015820:Cadherins / Q000378:metabolism; D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular; D006801:Humans; D007422:Intestines; D008113:Liver Neoplasms
D015820:Cadherins