Detection of Circulating Hepatoma Cells in Peripheral Blood by Reverse Transcription-Polymerase Chain Reaction

Wang, Hee Jung; Kim, Myung Wook; Hong, Seong Woo; Ryu, KI Sun; Park, Hee Boong

Abstract

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Many patients with hepatoma sbow a high recurrence rate in liver or lung after primary resection and even after liver transplantation, One of the reasons for recurrence may be that small numbers of tumor cells get into circulation preoperatively. This study was performed to investigate whether nested reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) for alphafetoprotein (a FP) mRNA can detect circulating hepatoma cells in peripheral blood and is correlated with metastasis.
METHODS
Peripheral blood samples were collected from 44 patients with hepatocellular cacinoma and 10 controls. To identify hepatoma cells, a FP mRNA was ampiified from blood by nested RT- PCR.
RESULTS
The sensitivity of our study was examined in HepG2 cell line. The sensitivity of RT- PCR was so high that a single cell among 10 5-10 6 HepG2 cells could be identified. The a FP mRNA was detected in 28 out of 44 patients (64%). In contrast, It was not detected in 10 controls. There was no significant correlation between the presence of a FP mRNA and other clinical parameters (tumor stage, size, serum a FP, intrahepatic metastasis, portal vein thrombosis, distant metastasis and recurrence).
CONCLUSIONS
a FP mRNA in peripheral blood can be detected in patients with resectable hepatoma. It may be correlated with hematogenous metastasis. The results of this study will provide new information on assessing patients and selecting the optimal therapy and investigating the mechanism of metastasis for hepatocellular carcinoma.