Deletion of chromosomes 9p and 17 associated with abnormal expression of p53, p16/MTS1 and p15/MTS2 gene protein in hepatocellular carcinomas

Objective Fifteen loci on chromosome 9p and 17 were analyzed to clarify the involvement of loss of heterozygosity (LOH) in hepatocellular carcinoma (H CC) in Chinese patients positive for hepatitis B (HBV) and/or hepatitis C ( HCV) infection. Expression of tumor suppressor genes (TSG) of p53, p16, and p15 gene was found to correlate with a deletion of these genes. Methods Immunohistochemistry and PCR-based microsatellite polymorphism anal ysis techniques were used. Results A high frequency of LOH was detected on chromosome 9p24 at locus D9 S54 (61.8%) and 9p21, concentrated at loci D9S1747 (52.4%) and D9S1752 (51. 8%). On chromosome 17, high frequent LOH was concentrated on 17p at the p53 gene locus (53.8%) and locus D17S520 (52.8%). p53 protein expression was i ncreased in HCC, which correlated with p53 gene loss. Expression of p16 and p15 protein decreased in HCC when LOH occurred at locus D9S1752 (p15 gene locus) or at locus D9S1747 and D9S1748 (p16 gene is located between these 2 loci). LOH at the p53 gene and p15 gene loci was closely associated with H BV and HCV co-infection in HCC. No significant relationship between LOH and HCC clinico-pathological outcomes was observed. Conclusion High frequency LOH occurs on chromosomes 9p and 17 in HCC in Chi nese patients. Such sites may contain several putative tumor suppressor gen es critically involved in the development and/or progression of HCC. Deleti on of p53, p16, or p15 tumor suppressor genes may cause abnormal expression of the protein product of these genes. HBV and/or HCV infection may be clo sely associated with LOH p53 and/or p15 gene expression.