Expression and significance of PTEN and miR-92 in hepatocellular carcinoma.

The aim of this study was to investigate the correlation between the expression levels of the tumor suppressor gene phosphatase and tensin homolog (PTEN) and the microRNA (miRNA) miR-92 in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and paracancerous tissue. Immunohistochemistry [streptavidin-peroxidase (SP)] and quantitative reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (qRT‑PCR) were used to detect the expression of PTEN and miR-92 in 15 cases of HCC and the corresponding paracancerous tissues. The correlation between PTEN and miR-92 was analyzed. The expression of PTEN mRNA and protein was significantly lower in HCC compared with that in paracancerous tissues (P<0.05). miR-92 showed the opposite expression pattern (P<0.05). Additionally, the mRNA levels of PTEN and miR-92 showed a significantly negative correlation with each other (r=-0.858, P<0.05). In conclusion, PTEN and miR-92 have different roles in the development of HCC. The combined detection of PTEN and miR-92 may provide critical clinical evidence for the early diagnosis and prognosis of HCC.