Original Article


MUTATION AND ABNORMAL EXPRESSION OF P16 INK4a IN HEPATOCELLULAR CARCINOMA

Sheng-liang Zhang, Yao-zheng Zhang, Ping Yan, He-li Gao

Abstract

Objective: To investigate the relationship between p16INK4b and primary hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), especially hepatitis B-related HCC.
Methods: p16INK4b and its protein in HCC were analyzed with PCR-SSCP and the immunohistodaemlstry methods respectively.
Results: The positive incidence of p16INK4b protein expressing in HCC was lower than that of normal liver tissue (P<0.05), and the absence of p16INK4b protein was associated with HCC metastasis (P<0.05). The low frequency of mutation of p16INK4b exonl and exon2 upstream fragment was found in HCC.
Conclusion: Absence of p16INK4b protein in HCC was not associated with HBV-infeetion.