KAN-1 (BILE-ACID COA-AMINO ACID N-ACYLTRANSFERASE) MESSENGER-RNA AS ANOVEL PREDICTIVE INDICATOR FOR PROGNOSIS OF HEPATOCELLULAR-CARCINOMA PATIENTS AFTER PARTIAL-HEPATECTOMY

We identified kan-1 complementary DNA (cDNA), the sequence of which is identical to bile acid CoA:amino acid N-acyltransferase (BAT), a live r enzyme that catalyzes the conjugation of bile acids with glycine or taurine. Kan-1(BAT) messenger RNA (mRNA) levels of the resected specim ens obtained from 37 hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) patients were stud ied in an attempt to evaluate prognostic significance in HCC patients after partial hepatectomy. Using Northern blot hybridization, kan-1(BA T) mRNA levels were quantified in tumorous and nontumorous tissues, an d the ratio of the former to the latter was defined as the kan-1(BAT) ratio. Twelve patients had a kan-1(BAT) ratio < 0.5 (low kan-1[BAT] ra tio), and 25 patients had a ratio >0.5 (high kan-1[BAT] ratio). The pa tients with a low kan-1(BAT) ratio demonstrated poorer survival than t he patients with a high kan-1(BAT) ratio (P =.0013). The overall estim ated hazard ratio for death in patients with a low kan-1(BAT) ratio wa s 68.05 according to a multivariate model (P = .0005). Thus, the kan-1 (BAT) ratio may serve as a new molecular prognostic marker in HCC pati ents, following hepatic resection.