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Determination of High Mobility Group A1 (HMGA1) Expression in Hepatocellular Carcinoma: A Potential Prognostic Marker

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Abstract

Our objective was to investigate the expression of HMGA1 mRNA and protein in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and the correlation between its expression and clinical pathological characteristics and prognosis. HMGA1 expression was determined at both the mRNA level and the protein level in 30 HCC tissues and their corresponding paracancer liver tissues (PCLTs) and 2 normal liver tissues by RT-PCR and IHC. Follow-up study was done on the 30 patients involved in this research. HMGA1 mRNA was detected in nine cases of HCC tissues and two PCLTs, for a positivity rate of 30% and 6.7%, respectively (P < 0.05), whereas no HMGA1 mRNA expression was found in normal liver tisssues. Clinicopathological analysis revealed that HMGA1 mRNA expression was significantly correlated with Edmondson's grade (P < 0.05). HMGA1 protein was detected in four HCC tissues by IHC and located mainly in the nuclei; no positive staining was found in PCLTs. Follow-up study showed that HMGA1 mRNA-positive patients had a higher risk of recurrence/metastasis and a shorter survival than negative cases (P < 0.05). Our findings indicate that HMGA1 may be involved in the carcinogenesis and invasiveness of HCC and the determination of HMGA1 can be of great value in predicting the prognosis of patients with HCC.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Liver Cancer Laboratory and Department of General Surgery, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Hunan, P.R.China

    Zhi-gang Chang MD, Lian-yue Yang MD, PhD, Wei Wang MD, Ji-xiang Peng MD, Gen-wen Huang MD, Yi-ming Tao MD & Xiang Ding MD

  2. Liver Cancer Laboratory and Department of Surgery, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, 87 Xiangya Road, Changsha, Hunan Province, 410008, P.R.China

    Lian-yue Yang MD, PhD

Authors
  1. Zhi-gang Chang MD
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  2. Lian-yue Yang MD, PhD
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  3. Wei Wang MD
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  4. Ji-xiang Peng MD
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Correspondence to Lian-yue Yang MD, PhD.

Additional information

This work was supported in part by National Key Technologies R&D Program Grant 2001BA703B04 and National Basic Research Program Grant 2004CB720303, Ministry of Science and Technology, People's Republic of China.

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Chang, Zg., Yang, Ly., Wang, W. et al. Determination of High Mobility Group A1 (HMGA1) Expression in Hepatocellular Carcinoma: A Potential Prognostic Marker. Dig Dis Sci 50, 1764–1770 (2005). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10620-005-2934-9

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10620-005-2934-9

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