Expression And Clinical Significance Of MTOR/p70S6K Signaling Pathway In Hepatocellular Carcinoma

AIM: T0 investigate expression of mTOR/P70S6K signaling pathway in human hepatocellualr carcinoma(HCC)and discuss its significance in the hepatocellular carcinogenesis.Methods: Reverse transcription polymerase chain reactions (RT- PCR) was employed to determine the mRNA expression of mTOR/P70S6K signaling pathway in cancerous and paraneoplastic liver tissues of 20 cases with HCC and normal liver tissues of 10 cases. The relationship between expression of the genes mRNA in HCC tissues and related clinical parameters was analyzed。Results:1)The expression level of mTOR/P70S6K signaling pathway in the HCC tissue was markedly higher than in the paraneoplastic liver and normal liver tissue (mTORmRNA: 0.594±0.218 Vs 0.437±0.156 0.594±0.218 Vs 0.383±0.081 P<0.05; P70S6KmRNA: 0.610±0.147 Vs 0.486±0.162 0.610±0.147 Vs 0.440±0.141 P<0.05).2)There was a positive correlation between mTOR mRNA and P70S6K mRNA expression in HCC tissues (r = 0.548, P= 0.012). There was also positive correlation between mTOR mRNA and P70S6K mRNA expressions in the paraneoplastic liver and the normal liver tissue(r = 0.607, 0.737, P= 0.005, 0.015).3)The expression of mTOR/P70S6K signaling pathway in the HCC tissue was evidently correlated with the Pathological grade , the pylic cancer embolus (mTOR mRNA: 0.784±0.187 Vs 0.531±0.193 0.734±0.167 Vs 0.519±0.209 P<0.05; P70S6K mRNA: 0.733±0.088 Vs 0.570±0.142 0.745±0.145 Vs 0.538±0.086 P<0.05),but not associated with the diameter, level of the serous alpha - fetoprotein (AFP), and gender.Conclusion:1)mTOR/P70S6K signaling pathway is activated in HCC tissues.2)The expression of mTOR/P70S6K signaling pathway in the HCC tissue was evidently correlated with the Pathological grade , the pylic cancer embolus,but not associated with the diameter, level of the serous alpha- fetoprotein (AFP), and gender. 3)The mTOR/P70S6Ksignaling pathway might play an important role in the pathogenesis of HCC.