KAI1 GENE-EXPRESSION IN HEPATOCELLULAR-CARCINOMA AND ITS RELATIONSHIPWITH INTRAHEPATIC METASTASES

KAI1 gene is a novel metastasis suppressor gene. Its transcription lev el has been reported to be related with metastases in several kinds of tumors. The Authors used RT-PCR method to investigate the expression levels of KAI1 gene in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) tissues from 42 patients. The results demonstrated that 57.1% of tumor tissues were po sitive in KAI1 expression. There was no statistically significant diff erence on KAI1 gene expression rate between large (>5cm) and small (<= 5cm) tumors, encapsulated and non-capsulated tumors, as well as alpha- fetoprotein (AFP) positive (>20ug/ml) and negative (<=20ug/ml) tumors; however, the expression rate was higher in tumors without intrahepati c metastasis than in those with intrahepatic metastasis (63.9% vs. 16. 7%, P<0.05). It is suggested that KAI1 gene expression may be related to the metastases of hepatocellular car cinema.