Detection of TERT promoter C228T/C250T mutations by droplet digital PCR for predicting the postoperative recurrence of hepatocellular carcinoma
10.3760/cma.j.cn113884-20250306-00077
- VernacularTitle:基于液滴数字PCR检测的TERT启动子C228T/C250T突变预测肝细胞癌术后复发的研究
- Author:
Nan HU
1
;
Aizimuaji ZULIHUMAER
;
Haiyang LI
;
Yue LIU
;
Changcheng TAO
;
Ting XIAO
;
Weiqi RONG
Author Information
1. 国家癌症中心 国家肿瘤临床医学研究中心 中国医学科学院北京协和医学院肿瘤医院肝胆外科，北京 100021
- Publication Type:Journal Article
- Keywords:
Carcinoma, hepatocellular;
Telomerase;
Mutation;
Recurrence;
Droplet digital polymerase chain reaction
- From:
Chinese Journal of Hepatobiliary Surgery
2025;31(9):647-653
- CountryChina
- Language:Chinese
-
Abstract:
Objective:To investigate the predictive value of telomerase reverse transcriptase (TERT) promoter C228T/C250T mutations in tumor tissues of patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) for postoperative recurrence after hepatectomy.Methods:Clinical data of 66 patients with HCC who underwent curative surgical resection at the Cancer Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, between January 2013 and May 2016 were retrospectively analyzed, including 54 males and 12 females, aged (53.5±11.1) years. Tumor tissues were collected from all patients. Droplet digital ploymerase chain reation (ddPCR) was employed to detect the TERT promoter C228T/C250T mutations. Survival outcomes were estimated using the Kaplan-Meier method and compared by the log-rank test. Univariate and multivariate Cox regression were used to analyze the impact of TERT promoter C228T/C250T mutations on postoperative recurrence. The predictive performance of TERT mutations for postoperative recurrence was further assessed using receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis.Results:The prevalence of TERT C228T and C250T mutations in tumor tissues was 43.9% (29/66) and 3.0% (2/66), respectively. Patients were stratified into a TERT promoter mutation group ( n=31) and a non-mutation group ( n=35). Those harboring C228T/C250T mutations exhibited significantly lower recurrence-free survival compared with non-mutated cases ( χ2=10.10, P=0.002). Multivariate Cox regression analysis showed that TERT promoter C228T mutation ( HR=2.24, 95% CI: 1.18-4.25, P=0.013) and TERT promoter C228T/C250T mutations in tumor tissue ( HR=2.49, 95% CI: 1.31-4.75, P=0.006) were associated with an increased risk of postoperative recurrence in patients with HCC. ROC analysis demonstrated the predictive accuracy for recurrence, with an area under the curve of 0.68 (95% CI: 0.55-0.81) for TERT C228T mutation and 0.71 (95% CI: 0.58-0.84) for combined C228T/C250T mutations. Conclusion:TERT promoter C228T/C250T mutations in tumor tissues of HCC patients detected by ddPCR are risk factors for postoperative recurrence and may serve as indicators for predicting recurrence.
