TY - JOUR
T1 - Increased DNA methyltransferase expression is associated with an early stage of human hepatocarcinogenesis
AU - Sun, Lin
AU - Hui, Ai Min
AU - Kanai, Yae
AU - Sakamoto, Michiie
AU - Hirohashi, Setsuo
PY - 1997/12
Y1 - 1997/12
N2 - The present study was designed to determine whether changes in DNA methyltransferase (DNA MTase) expression are involved in hepatocarcinogenesis. We examined DNA MTase expression in normal liver tissue (with no remarkable histological findings), liver tissue showing chronic hepatitis or cirrhosis, which are generally thought to be precancerous conditions, and hepatocellular carcinomas (HCCs) using the reverse-transcriptase polymerase chain reaction assay. DNA MTase mRNA levels were significantly higher in liver tissue showing chronic hepatitis and cirrhosis (DNA MTase mRNA/β-actin mRNA ratio = 0.30 ± 0.22, n = 24, P < 0.01) than in normal liver tissue either from patients with liver metastatic lesions of colonic cancer (0.14 ± 0.05, n = 6) or from patients with HCCs (0.16 ± 0.07, n = 3). DNA MTase mRNA levels were even higher in HCC tissue (0.34 ± 0.18, n = 29). These results suggest that increased DNA MTase expression may be an early event during hepatocarcinogenesis. DNA MTase is a potential target for HCC preventive therapy.
AB - The present study was designed to determine whether changes in DNA methyltransferase (DNA MTase) expression are involved in hepatocarcinogenesis. We examined DNA MTase expression in normal liver tissue (with no remarkable histological findings), liver tissue showing chronic hepatitis or cirrhosis, which are generally thought to be precancerous conditions, and hepatocellular carcinomas (HCCs) using the reverse-transcriptase polymerase chain reaction assay. DNA MTase mRNA levels were significantly higher in liver tissue showing chronic hepatitis and cirrhosis (DNA MTase mRNA/β-actin mRNA ratio = 0.30 ± 0.22, n = 24, P < 0.01) than in normal liver tissue either from patients with liver metastatic lesions of colonic cancer (0.14 ± 0.05, n = 6) or from patients with HCCs (0.16 ± 0.07, n = 3). DNA MTase mRNA levels were even higher in HCC tissue (0.34 ± 0.18, n = 29). These results suggest that increased DNA MTase expression may be an early event during hepatocarcinogenesis. DNA MTase is a potential target for HCC preventive therapy.
KW - Chronic hepatitis
KW - Cirrhosis
KW - DNA methyltransferase
KW - Hepatocellular carcinoma
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U2 - 10.1111/j.1349-7006.1997.tb00345.x
DO - 10.1111/j.1349-7006.1997.tb00345.x
M3 - Article
C2 - 9473734
AN - SCOPUS:0031442751
SN - 0910-5050
VL - 88
SP - 1165
EP - 1170
JO - Japanese Journal of Cancer Research
JF - Japanese Journal of Cancer Research
IS - 12
ER -
