Analysis of methylation and loss of heterozygosity of RUNX3 gene in hepatocellular carcinoma and its clinical significance / 中华肝脏病杂志

ABSTRACT

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>In order to elucidate role of RUNX3 gene in hepatocarcinogenesis, we detected genetic and epigenetic alteration of RUNX3 gene in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).</p><p><b>METHODS</b>PCR-SSCP, analysis of loss of heterozygosity (LOH), sequencing and methylation-specific PCR (MSP) were used to detect mutation, LOH and DNA methylation of RUNX3 gene in 90 HCCs.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>No mutation was found, but three single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP) were found and distributed over exon1 and exon4. 30.6% (11/36) of cases showed LOH; 54.4% (49/90) of cases was in hypermethylation. There is a significant correlation between LOH and major portal vein invasive or micro vessel invasion or intrahepatic metastasis.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>High frequent hypermethylation and LOH of RUNX3 gene were found in HCC. Aberrant RUNX3 gene may play an important role in the development of HCC.</p>