KAI1 gene expression in hepatocellular carcinoma and its relationship with intrahepatic metastases.

KAI1 gene is a novel metastasis suppressor gene. Its transcription level has been reported to be related with metastases in several kinds of tumors. The Authors used RT-PCR method to investigate the expression levels of KAI1 gene in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) tissues from 42 patients. The results demonstrated that 57.1% of tumor tissues were positive in KAI1 expression. There was no statistically significant difference on KAI1 gene expression rate between large (>5 cm) and small (<=5 cm) tumors, encapsulated and non-capsulated tumors, as well as alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) positive (>20 ug/ml) and negative (<=20 ug/ml) tumors; however, the expression rate was higher in tumors without intrahepatic metastasis than in those with intrahepatic metastasis (63.9% vs. 16.7%, P<0.05). It is suggested that KAI1 gene expression may be related to the metastases of hepatocellular carcinoma.