The clinical relevance of the expression of the ratio of laminin-5 subchains messenger RNA of hepatocellular carcinoma to non-cancerous liver remnant: a prospective study.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Laminin-5 has been reported as a prognostic indicator of some malignancies. This prospective study aimed to elucidate the correlation between the ratio of the expression of different laminin-5 subchain mRNAs in HCC tissue and the clinical relevance or prognosis of patients.

METHODOLOGY

Using RT-PCR, a3, ß3 and ?2 mRNA levels were determined prospectively from 29 patients with HCC undergoing curative resection. The ratio of the value of each subchain mRNA in HCC tissue to non-cancerous liver tissue was measured.

RESULTS

The mRNA of a3, ß3 and ß2 was detected in both HCC tissue and the liver remnants in 29 (100%), 29 (100%) and 28 (96.5%) patients, respectively. The ratio of ?2 mRNA correlated with the absence of complete encapsulation (p=0.033) and with the presence of hepatitis, with borderline significance (p=0.081). The ratio of a3 mRNA correlated with tumor hemorrhage and tumor necrosis with borderline significance (p=0.082 and p=0.082, respectively). The ratios of a3, ß3 and ?2 mRNA did not correlate significantly with postresection recurrence, recurrence and patient survival.

CONCLUSIONS

Expression of a3, ß3 and ?2 cannot predict the prognosis. However, high expression of ?2 mRNA in HCC/non-cancerous liver correlated significantly with the absence of complete encapsulation, which is an important tumor invasiveness factor.