title: Differential Expression of Glypican-3 and Insulin–Like Growth Factor-II mRNAs and Alpha-Fetoprotein and Ki-67 Markers in HCV Related Hepatocellular Carcinomas In Egyptian Patients
abstract: Background: Increasing evidence indicates that in hepatocellular carcinomas (HCCs) abnormal gene expression,
  for example of glypican-3 (GPC-3) and insulin-like growth factor-II (IGF-II), are associated with the occurrence and
  progression of HCC. The objective of this study was to evaluate the differential expression of GPC-3 and IGF-II
  mRNAs in HCC tissues with a background of chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) genotype 4 cirrhosis, in relation to
  Ki-67 and alpha-feto protein (AFP) tissue markers. Methods: One hundred and five patients with HCCs who had
  undergone hepatectomy, were included, after obtaining informed consent. Total RNA was extracted from malignant
  and corresponding peri-malignant liver tissues, and GPC-3 and IGF-II mRNAs in addition to beta-actin mRNA as an
  internal control, were evaluated in all samples by reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reactions (RT-PCR). Routine
  histopathological diagnosis as well as immunohistochemical (IHC) staining using monoclonal antibodies for Ki-67
  and AFP were also performed. Result: Expression of GPC-3 mRNA was positive in all HCC malignant tissue, with
  overexpression in 86/105 (81.9%); in respect to the grade of the tumor (1-3 grades), while in peri-malignant tissue it
  was over expressed only in 20/105 (19%). The IGF-II mRNA was over expressed in only 10/105 (9.5%) malignant
  and peri-malignant samples. AFP was expressed in 33.3% of malignant samples but absent in peri-malignant tissues.
  Ki-67 expression was significantly increased in malignant compared to peri-malignant tissue. Conclusion: GPC-3 and
  IGF II mRNAs may be good molecular markers for HCC, especially with a background of cirrhosis due to chronic
  HCV infection. Significant correlations were noted with the pattern of AFP and Ki-67 expression.
authors.affiliation: Biochemistry And Molecular Biology Department, Theodor Bilharz Research Institute (TBRI), Giza, Egypt. Email: amirasoliman777@hotmail.com
authors.forename: Mohamed A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Saber
authors.forename: Samah
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: MM AbdelHafiz
authors.forename: Fatma E
authors.initials: FE
authors.lastname: Khorshed
authors.forename: Tarek S
authors.initials: TS
authors.lastname: Aboushousha
authors.forename: Hussam EM
authors.initials: HE
authors.lastname: Hamdy
authors.forename: Mohamed I
authors.initials: MI
authors.lastname: Seleem
authors.forename: Amira H
authors.initials: AH
authors.lastname: Soliman
keywords: Glypican-3; Insulin–Like Growth Factor-II; hepatocellular carcinoma; HCV; alpha-fetoprotein