Published online Mar 15, 2003. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v9.i3.468
Revised: October 23, 2002
Accepted: November 4, 2002
Published online: March 15, 2003
AIM: To investigate the correlation between gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase (γ-GTP) expression in the primary HCC and post-resection recurrence and its biological behaviors.
METHODS: Forty consecutive patients having curative resection for HCC were included in this study. The primers for reverse -transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) were corresponding to the 5’-noncoding human γ-GTP mRNA of fetal liver (type A), HepG2 cells (type B), and placenta (type C). Both the cancer and non-cancerous tissues of the resected liver were analyzed. The correlations between the expression of γ-GTP and the clinicopathological variables and outcomes (recurrence and survival) were studied.
RESULTS: Those with type B γ-GTP mRNA in cancer had significant higher recurrence rate than those without it (63.6% vs 14.3%). Both those with type B in cancer and in non -cancer died significantly more than those without it (45.5% vs 0% and 53.6% vs 0%, respectively). By multivariate analysis, the significant predictors of recurrence included high serum AFP (P = 0.0108), vascular permeation (P = 0.0084), and type B γ-GTP mRNA in non-cancerous liver (P = 0.0107). The significant predictors of post-recurrence death included high serum AFP (P = 0.0141), vascular permeation ( P = 0.0130), and daughter nodules (P = 0.0053). As to the manifestations (recurrent number 2, recurrent extent 2 segments, extra-hepatic metastasis, and death) in recurrent patients, there were no statistical significant differences between those with type B in the primary tumor and those without it. The difference between those with type B in non-cancerous liver and those without it also was not significant.
CONCLUSION: Patients of HCC with type B γ-GTP mRNA both in cancer and in non-cancerous tissue had a worse outcome, earlier recurrence, and more post-recurrence death.