ObjectiveTo investigate the expressions and clinical significance of human telomerase reverse transcriptase (hTERT) mRNA and γglutamyl transpeptidase mRNA-H (GGT mRNA-H) in the peripheral blood of small hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) patients. MethodsThe expressions of hTERT mRNA and GGT mRNA-H were detected in the peripheral blood of thirty patients with small HCC by RT-PCR, eighteen patients with benign liver diseases, and twelve normal volunteers. ResultsThe positive rate of hTERT mRNA and GGT mRNA-H expression in patients with small HCC were 80.0% (24/30) and 46.7%(14/30), respectively. In patients with hepatitic cirrhosis the positive rate of hTERT mRNA expression was 33.3% (6/18), while the expression of GGT mRNA was not detected. Both the expressions of hTERT mRNA and GGT mRNA-H were negative in all normal volunteers. The combination analysis of hTERT mRNA and GGT mRNA-H expression achieved positive rate of 86.7% in the diagnosis of small HCC, which was significantly higher than the positive rate of AFP (26.7%)， Plt;0.05. ConclusionThe hTERT mRNA and GGT mRNA-H are significantly expressed in small HCC patients, the combination analysis of hTERT mRNA and GGT mRNA-H seems to be useful in the early diagnosis of small HCC.
ObjectiveTo explore the clinical significance of promoter hypermethylation of O6-methylguanine-DNA methyltransferase (MGMT) in cholangiocarcinoma. MethodsPromoter methylation status of MGMT gene and expression of MGMT protein were detected in cholangiocarcinoma by methylationspecific PCR and immunohistochemical staining, respectively. ResultsAberrant methylation of MGMT gene was detected in 17 patients (47.2%). Twentyone cases showed negative immunoreactivities. Of 21 patients with negative MGMT expression, 14 patients had aberrant methylation of MGMT gene. In 15 patients with positive MGMT expression, aberrant methylation of MGMT gene was only found in three cases. There was a negative correlation between promoter methylation status of MGMT gene and the expression of MGMT protein (rs=-0.816, Plt;0.05). Promoter methylation status of MGMT gene was related to depth of invasion, degree of differentiation, and TNM stage (Plt;0.05), but not to age of patient, gender, pathological type, and lymph node metastasis (Pgt;0.05). ConclusionsHypermethylation of MGMT promoter is a frequency molecular event in cholangiocarcinoma and may be involved in carcinogenesis. Methylation status of MGMT gene may be used to evaluate malignant degree of cholangiocarcinoma.