The gene expression profile p16,c-erbB-3 andbcl2 in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) patients with and without associated HCV infection was assessed.
Forty –eight subjects were included in the study and divided equally into two groups :HCC with HCV infection and HCC without HCV infection.Adjacent paracancerous tissues were associated as control samples.
Correlation with various clinic-pathological parameters of the tumour were assessed:stage .grade and tumour size .The c-erbB-3 oncogene was expressed in 83.33%(40/48) of total HCC sample and in 31.25%(15/48) of non cancerous lesions.C-erb-3 was expressed in 87.5%(21/24) of HCC cases with associated HCV infection and in 79.16%(19/24) of HCC cases without associated HCV infection. Gene expression of c-erb-3 was significantly correlated with clinic- pathological parameters of the tumour..p16 was expreesed in1 2.5%(6/48) of total HCC and in 25% (12/48) of paracanerous lesions.P16 was expressed in 12.5% (3/24) of HCC cases with and without HCV infection.Gene expression of p16 exhibit significant negative correlation with clinic-pathological parameters of the tumour.Bcl2 gene expression was found in 20.8%(10/48) of the total HCC sample and in the para-cancerous lesions.Bcl2 was in20.8% of the HCC cases with and without HCV associated infection.Gene expression of bcl2 did not show significant correlations with clinico-pathological parameters of the tumour. In conclusion ,gene expression profile of p16 and c-erB-3 could be used as prognostic molecular markers in HCC