0.05). Positive stains were located in cytoplasm of cancer and stromal cells, especially in invasive margin of cancer. Slight positive stains were observed in non-cancer tissues. But in the control samples, there wasn't specific stain. In ELISA, the uPA antigen levels in cancer and non- cancer tissues were (4.23?0.57)ng/mg protein and (1.26?0.14)ng/mg protein; the uPAR antigen levels in caner and non-cancer tissues were(4.25?0.21)ng/mg protein and (3.15?0.23)ng/mg protein respectively. Significant difference existed in both uPA and uPAR antigen levels in these two kinds of tissue ( t=18.963,P=0.000;t=13 693,P=0 000 ). Furthermore, these antigen levels in progressive and aggressive tumors significantly higher than those in non-progressive and non-aggressive tumors ( P

Objective To study the relationship between the expression of MAGE-10 genes and the clinical parameters of metastasis and recurrence of patients with Hepatocellular carainama (HCC). Methods The expression of MAGE-10 genes in tumor tissues,liver tissues adjacent to tumor and hepatocirrhosis tissues was examined by RT-PCR method.The relationship between positive expression rate of MAGE-10 genes and clinical parameters of metastasis and recurrence (such as AFP, AFU, Anti-HCV, HBsAg, AFPmRNA, diameter of tumor) in patients with HCC were studied. Results The positive expression rate of MAGE-10 genes significantly higher in tumor tissues than that in the surrounding tumor tissues (51 6% vs. 0%, ? 2=18 95,P 0 05).There was no expression of MAGE-10 in hepatocirrhosis tissues of 10 cases. Conclusions There was a high frequency of MAGE-10 genes expression in HCC,but it is unrelated to the tumor markers,metastasis and recurrence of HCC.

Objective To investigate the clinicopathological features, postoperative survival and prognostic influencing factors of male patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Methods The clinicopathological features and the follow-up data of 155 male HCC patients who received hepatectomy from Jan. 1995 to Dec. 2002 were retrospectively analyzed and the prognostic influencing factors were defined by uni-and multi-variate analysis. Results Compared with 24 female patients at the same period, males were about six-year older and both of their hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) and liver cirrhosis positive rates were higher (P

OBJECTIVETo detect tumor cells in the peripheral blood of patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) by using the mRNA of the MAGE-1 and MAGE-3 genes as specific tumor markers.

METHODSPeripheral blood was obtained from 25 HCC patients and 20 healthy volunteers. The mRNA of the MAGE-1 and MAGE-3 genes in the peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) was detected by nested RT-PCR. The MAGE-1 and MAGE-3 transcripts in the tumor tissues of these HCC patients were also detected by RT-PCR.

RESULTSOf the 25 HCC patients, MAGE-1 and MAGE-3 mRNA were positive in 44% (11/25) and 36% (9/25) of PBMCs respectively, and in 68% (17/25) and 56% (14/25) of HCC tissues respectively. In the PBMCs of the 25 HCC patients, 16 (64%) samples were detected to express at least one type of MAGE mRNA. MAGE mRNA were not detected in the PBMCs from the patients whose tumors did not express the MAGE genes, nor in the PBMCs from the 20 healthy donors. The positive rate of MAGE mRNA in the PBMCs was closely correlated with the TNM stages and the diameter of tumors, but there was no correlation between the positive rate of MAGE mRNA in PBMCs and tumor differentiation degree or serum alpha-FP level. Of 9 HCC patients whose serum alpha-FP was normal or slightly elevated (< 50 ng/ml), 6 were MAGE-1 and/or MAGE-3 mRNA positive in their PBMCs.

CONCLUSIONMAGE-1 and MAGE-3 mRNA could be specifically detected with high percentage in the PBMCs of HCC patients by our method. They can be used as specific tumor markers for the detection of the circulating HCC cells, and the detection results may be helpful to evaluate the prognosis of HCC patients.

Antigens, Neoplasm ; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular ; genetics ; Humans ; Leukocytes, Mononuclear ; Liver Neoplasms ; genetics ; Melanoma-Specific Antigens ; Neoplasm Proteins ; RNA, Messenger ; genetics

OBJECTIVETo investigate the therapeutic measures for unresectable primary liver cancer (PLC).

METHODSThe date of 312 unresectable primary liver cancer patients treated from January 1991 to March 2003 were retrospectively analyzed.

RESULTSOf these 312 patients, 73 were treated by cryosurgery-based combined modality therapy, 239 were treated by a TACE-oriented combined modality therapy. 289 patients except 23 were followed for a period of 2 to 156 months. The overall 1-,3- and 5-year survival rate in this series was 74. 0% , 34. 0% and 16. 7% , respectively. The 1-,3-and 5-year survival rate in the cryosurgery group was 64. 4% , 38. 4% and 27. 4% , respectively. The 1-, 3- and 5-year survival rate in the TACE group was 75. 1% , 29. 0% and 10. 0%, respectively.

CONCLUSIONTreatment for the unresectable primary liver cancer should be individualized and combined with suitable therapeutic modalities.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Chemoembolization, Therapeutic ; methods ; Combined Modality Therapy ; Cryosurgery ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Liver Cirrhosis ; complications ; therapy ; Liver Neoplasms ; complications ; pathology ; therapy ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Neoplasm Recurrence, Local ; Retrospective Studies ; Survival Analysis