Expression of Glypican-3 gene and its regulating mechanism in hepatocellular carcinoma

AIM:To investigate the expression of Glypican-3 gene and its regulating mechanism in hepatocellular carcinoma. METHODS:The expression of GPC3 mRNA and its gene mutation in 48 hepatocellular carcinoma tissues, 39 paracarcinomatous tissues and 31 normal liver tissues were detected by using RT-PCR and PCR-SSCP. The expressions of GPC3 protein, P53 and PCNA protein were detected by using immunohistochemistry S-P. RESULTS:The positive expressive rate of GPC3 mRNA was 77.1% in hepatocellular carcinoma tissue. No expression of GPC3 mRNA in paracarcinomatous tissues and normal liver tissues was observed. No gene mutation of GPC3 in hepatocellular carcinoma tissue was found. No correlation was found between GPC3 and P53 (r=-0.12574, P>0.05). The mean index of proliferating cell nuclear antigen(PCNA) in positive and negative GPC3 expression were (46.32±27.54)% and (39.83±21.47)%, respectively (P>0.05). CONCLUSION:The high expression of GPC3 mRNA in hepatocellular carcinoma is independent to the gene mutation, and to the expression of P53 and PCNA protein.