title: Expression and clinicopathological significance of miR-146a in hepatocellular carcinoma tissues.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Aberrant expression of microRNA-146a (miR-146a) has been found in several classes of cancers. However, its expression and clinicopathological contribution in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) has not been fully elucidated.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To explore the clinicopathological significance of the miR-146a level in HCC formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded (FFPE) tissue.
  
  
  METHODS
  Eighty-five HCC samples and their para-cancerous normal liver tissues were collected. Total mRNA including miRNA was extracted, and miR-146a expression was determined using real-time RT-PCR. Furthermore, the correlation between the miR-146a expression and clinicopathological parameters was investigated.
  
  
  RESULTS
  MicroRNA-146a expression in HCC tissues was lower compared with that in adjacent non-cancerous hepatic tissues. MicroRNA-146a expression was also related to clinical TNM stage, metastasis, portal vein tumor embolus, and number of tumor nodes.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Down-regulation of miR-146a is related to HCC carcinogenesis and deterioration of HCC. MicroRNA-146a may act as a suppressor miRNA of HCC, and it is therefore a potential prognostic biomarker for HCC patients.
authors.affiliation: Research Department, Affiliated Cancer Hospital, Guangxi Medical University , 71 Hedi Road, Nanning, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region 530021 , P. R. China.
authors.forename: Minhua
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Rong
authors.forename: Rongquan
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: He
authors.forename: Yiwu
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Dang
authors.forename: Gang
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Chen
mesh_terms: D001483:Base Sequence; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000378:metabolism; D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000235:genetics* / Q000473:pathology; D017931:DNA Primers; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics* / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D035683:MicroRNAs / Q000235:genetics*; D008875:Middle Aged; D011379:Prognosis; D060888:Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D017931:DNA Primers; C542542:MIRN146 microRNA, human; D035683:MicroRNAs