Detection of MAGE-1, MAGE-3 and AFP mRNA as multimarker by real-time quantitative PCR assay: a possible predictor of hematogenous micrometastasis of hepatocellular carcinoma

Diagnostic value of AFP, h-TERT and VEGF mRNAs in peripheral blood of patients with hepatocellular carcinoma

AIM: To evaluate the diagnostic significance of alpha-fetoprotein (AFP), human telomerase reverse transcriptase (h-TERT) and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) mRNAs in peripheral blood of patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).

METHODS: Fluorescence quantitative PCR (FQ-PCR) was used to detect the levels of AFP, h-TERT and VEGF mRNAs in peripheral blood samples from 40 patient with HCC, 20 patients with liver disease and 10 normal controls.

RESULTS: The positive rates of all three parameters were significantly higher in HCC patients than in controls (all P < 0.01). The positive expression of AFP and VEGF was not correlated with serum AFP levels in HCC patients (P > 0.05), whereas h-TERT mRNA had a correlation with serum AFP levels (P = 0.01). The positive rates of all three parameters were highly correlated with TNM stage in HCC patients (all P < 0.01). The specificity of AFP mRNA in the diagnosis of HCC was higher, and combined detection of AFP and h-TERT mRNAs had a higher accuracy.

CONCLUSION: AFP, h-TERT and VEGF mRNAs in peripheral blood can be used as auxiliary parameters for the diagnosis of HCC, and combined detection of AFP and h-TERT mRNAs in peripheral blood can increase the sensitivity and specificity for diagnosing HCC.

MAGE-3 and MAGE-4 genes as possible markers for early detection of metastases in hepatitis C virus Egyptian patients complicated by hepatocellular carcinoma

The dissemination of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) cells into the circulation plays a critical role in post-operative recurrence and metastasis. Early detection of metastatic tumor cells is critical to identify HCC patients at high risk of relapse. MAGE-3 and -4 genes were evaluated by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction for the possibility of using them as new markers for early detection of metastases in 160 chronic HCV Egyptian patients, 115 of them were complicated with HCC. The expressions of MAGE-3 and MAGE-4 mRNA in peripheral blood of patients with metastatic HCC were 36 and 52%, respectively. While the expressions of MAGE-3 and MAGE-4 mRNA in peripheral blood of patients with localized HCC were 12.5 and 15%, respectively. Moreover, at least one type of mRNA was found in the peripheral blood of 68% of the metastatic HCC patients and in 20% of the localized HCC patients. While neither the controls nor the cirrhotic patients show expression of MAGE-4 mRNA in their peripheral blood. MAGE-3 and MAGE-4 may be a promising diagnostic tool for monitoring the prognosis of HCC patients and early detection of occult hematogenous metastasis of HCC.