Review
Copyright ©2005 Baishideng Publishing Group Inc. All rights reserved.
World J Gastroenterol. Jan 28, 2005; 11(4): 463-468
Published online Jan 28, 2005. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v11.i4.463
Molecular profiling of hepatocellular carcinomas by cDNA microarray
Lian-Hai Zhang, Jia-Fu Ji
Lian-Hai Zhang, Jia-Fu Ji, Peking University School of Oncology, Beijing Cancer Hospital, Beijing Institute for Cancer Research, Beijing 100034, China
Author contributions: All authors contributed equally to the work.
Correspondence to: Dr. Jia-Fu Ji, Peking University School of Oncology, Beijing Cancer Hospital, Beijing Institute for Cancer Research, Beijing 100034, China. jiafuj@hotmail.com
Telephone: +86-10-88121122-2048 Fax: +86-10-88122437
Received: February 2, 2004
Revised: February 6, 2004
Accepted: February 21, 2004
Published online: January 28, 2005
Abstract

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is one of the most common cancers in the world. Conventional diagnosis and treatment of this malignancy have been dismal and should be complemented by novel tools. The development and progress of HCC are believed to be caused by the accumulation of genetic changes resulting in altered expression of thousands of cancer-related genes, which can be measured by globe genetic analysis. Gene expression profiling of HCC has been employed to elucidate hepatocarcinogenesis and disclose molecular mechanisms underlying complex clinical features. Identifying phenotype-associated genes/profiles has impacts on current diagnosis and management strategy of HCC. In spite of some pitfalls of this technology and challenges in improving the research process, scrutinous validation of profiling data of HCC combined with other approaches will eventually benefit the patients.

Keywords: Hepatocellular carcinomas; cDNA microarray; Gene expression profiling