Abstract |
We previously identified apolipoprotein D ( Apo D) as a novel tumor suppressor gene based on the pharmacological unmasking of epigenetic silencing. We analyzed Apo D expression using real-time reverse transcription-PCR and evaluated its expression status based on the clinicopathological parameters of 70 patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Immunohistochemical staining was also performed. We determined the methylation status of Apo D gene promoter by methylation-specific PCR (MSP). The Apo D gene-expression in tumor tissue was significantly lower than that in nontumor tissue (p = 0.011). A low Apo D expression significantly correlated with less-differentiated HCC (p = 0.019). Immunohistochemical studies confirmed a decreased Apo D expression in poorly differentiated tumors. The prognosis of patients with a lower Apo D gene-expression was significantly worse than that in those with a higher expression (p = 0.028). The Apo D gene-expression was an independent prognostic factor (relative risk: 2.36, p = 0.018). An MSP assay showed a low-level of methylation in well differentiated HCC and a high-level of methylation in less differentiated tumors. Apo D may be a novel tumor suppressor gene of HCC, and its expression status may be a useful biomarker for predicting the patient outcome.
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Authors | Tohru Utsunomiya, Kazuhiko Ogawa, Keiji Yoshinaga, Mitsuhiko Ohta, Keishi Yamashita, Koshi Mimori, Hiroshi Inoue, Takahiro Ezaki, Yasuji Yoshikawa, Masaki Mori |
Journal | International journal of cancer
(Int J Cancer)
Vol. 116
Issue 1
Pg. 105-9
(Aug 10 2005)
ISSN: 0020-7136 [Print] United States |
PMID | 15756681
(Publication Type: Evaluation Study, Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)
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Copyright | (c) 2005 Wiley-Liss, Inc. |
Chemical References |
- Apolipoproteins
- Apolipoproteins D
- RNA, Messenger
- Azacitidine
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Topics |
- Aged
- Apolipoproteins
(genetics)
- Apolipoproteins D
- Azacitidine
(pharmacology)
- Carcinoma, Hepatocellular
(genetics, mortality, pathology)
- DNA Methylation
- Female
- Gene Silencing
- Genes, Tumor Suppressor
- Humans
- Liver Neoplasms
(genetics, mortality, pathology)
- Male
- Middle Aged
- Prognosis
- Promoter Regions, Genetic
- RNA, Messenger
(analysis)
- Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction
- Survival Analysis
- Tumor Cells, Cultured
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