title: Methylation of the HACE1 gene is frequently detected in hepatocellular carcinoma.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Recently, it has been reported that HACE1, the E3 ubiquitin ligase, is epigenetically inactivated in human Wilms' tumors and HACE 1 expression was also down-regulated in colorectal and gastric carcinomas.
  
  
  METHODS
  In this study, methylation status of the HACE1 gene was examined in primary carcinomas and the corresponding normal tissues derived from 27 patients with HCC using quantitative methylation-specific PCR (qMSP).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Methylation of the HACE1 gene was detected in 18 out of the 27 (67%) HCCs, suggesting that the methylation of HACE1 was frequently observed in HCC. The clinicopathological data were then correlated with these results. In the value of serum AFP (α-fetoprotein), a significant difference was observed (p=0.0025).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  All stages of HCCs presented HACE1 methylation, indicating that the HACE1 gene has been methylated from the early stages of HCCs.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Showa University Fujigaoka Hospital, Yokohama, Japan.
authors.forename: Makiko
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sakata
authors.forename: Kazuaki
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Yokomizo
authors.forename: Yohei
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Kitamura
authors.forename: Kazuma
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Sakuraba
authors.forename: Atsushi
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Shirahata
authors.forename: Tetsuhiro
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Goto
authors.forename: Hiroki
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Mizukami
authors.forename: Mitsuo
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Saito
authors.forename: Kazuyoshi
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Ishibashi
authors.forename: Gaku
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Kigawa
authors.forename: Hiroshi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Nemoto
authors.forename: Kenji
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Hibi
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000235:genetics*; D019175:DNA Methylation; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D044767:Ubiquitin-Protein Ligases / Q000235:genetics*
chemical_list: C497506:HACE1 protein, human; D044767:Ubiquitin-Protein Ligases