| Objective:Previous studies have implicated loss of heterozygosity (LOH) in the pathogenesis hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). We investigated the presence and clinical significance of LOH at the mitofusin-2(MFN2) gene in patients with HBsAg-positive and HBsAg-negative human HCC.Methods:Four high polymorphic micro satellite markers flanking the MFN2gene were selected for LOH analysis in56patients with HCC (38HBsAg-positive cases, and18cases HBsAg-negative cases). Cancerous tissues and adjacent normal tissues were harvested.Results:A total of22of the56patients (39.3%) had LOH on at least one of the assayed loci. The frequencies of LOH on D1S2667. D1S2740, D1S434. and D1S228were34.1%(14/41).31%(9/29),37.1%(13/35). and37%(17/46). respectively. LOH on D1S434and D1S228were significantly more common in HBsAg-negative patients than in HBsAg-positive patients (p<0.05). LOH frequency on D1S2667was significantly more common in patients with serum α-fetoprotein (AFP) more than20μ.g/L than in those with serum AFP less than20μg/L (p<0.05). There were no significant correlations between LOH and gender, age. HCV infection, thrombosis, multiplicity, cirrhosis, tumor size. capsule formation, and differentiation grade (p> 0.05).Conclusion:LOH at MFN2was relatively common in our population of HCC patients. LOH was more common in patients who were HBsAg-negative and who had serum AFP more than20μg/L. LOH at MFN2appears to play a role in hepatocarcinogenesis in the absence of HBV infection. |
