[Expression and exon 3 mutation of beta-catenin in human hepatocellular carcinoma].

Background & Objective: South Guangxi is an area with high incidence of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), and with severe contamination of dietary aflatoxin B1 (AFB1). The activation of beta-Catenin is involved in many cancers. AFB1 may play a key role in hepatocarcinogenesis.

Dynamic expression of apoptosis-related genes during development of laboratory hepatocellular carcinoma and its relation to apoptosis.

Aim: To explore the expression of p53, bcl-2, bax, survivin and the cell apoptosis during the development of tree shrew hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), the relationship between expression of these genes, its impact on HCC development, and its relation to cell apoptosis.

Methods: Tree shrew HCC was induced with aflatoxin B1 (AFB1), and regular biopsy of liver tissues was carried out and the biopsy tissues were collected during cancer inducement. Liver biopsy tissue and HCC tissue were collected from 35 pre-cancerous experimental animals at wk 30 and 60 and at the 30th-, 60th-, and 90th-wk.

Alteration of p53 and p21 during hepatocarcinogenesis in tree shrews.

Aim: To investigate p53 mutation and p21 expression in hepatocarcinogenesis induced by hepatitis B virus (HBV) and aflatoxin B(1) (AFB(1)) in tree shrews, and to reveal the role of these genes in hepatocarcinogenesis.

Methods: Tree shrews were divided into four groups: group A, those infected with HBV and fed with AFB(1) (n = 39); group B, those infected with HBV alone (n = 28); group C, those fed with AFB(1) alone (n = 29); and group D, normal controls (n = 20). The tree shrews underwent liver biopsies once every 15 wk.

Comparison of the expression of beta-catenin in hepatocellular carcinoma in areas with high and low levels of exposure to aflatoxin B1.

Background And Objectives: Previous studies showed that the frequency of beta-catenin mutation was different in mice when induced by different chemicals. The aim of this study is to compare the expression of beta-catenin and p53 in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) from areas with exposure to high and low levels of aflatoxin B1 (AFB1).

Methods: Thirty-five and twenty HCC samples from Guangxi and Malaysia, respectively, were studied.

Differential expression of genes during aflatoxin B(1)-induced hepatocarcinogenesis in tree shrews.

Aim: Through exploring the regulation of gene expression during hepatocarcinogenesis induced by aflatoxin B(1) (AFB(1)), to find out the responsible genes for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and to further understand the underlying molecular mechanism.

Methods: Tree shrews (Tupaia belangeri chinensis) were treated with or without AFB(1) for about 90 weeks. Liver biopsies were performed regularly during the animal experiment.

Alteration of the p53 gene during tree shrews' hepatocarcinogenesis.

Objective: To detect the expression and variation of the p53 gene in hepatocarcinogenesis of tree shrews induced by hepatitis B virus (HBV) and aflatoxin B1 (AFB1).

Methods: Tree shrews were divided into four groups: group A, infected with HBV and fed with AFB1; group B, only infected with HBV; group C, fed with AFB1 alone; and group D normal control. The tree shrews underwent liver biopsy every 15 weeks.

[Differentially expressed genes in hepatocellular carcinoma of tree shrew induced by different factors].

Background & Objective: Previous studies on differentially expressed genes in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) used to perform with para-cancerous tissues as normal control. However, the para-cancerous tissue of HCC is actually abnormal because they frequently contain hepatitis, cirrhosis, hyperplastic nodules or foci, etc. In order to explore the molecular mechanism and the responsible genes for hepatocarcinogenesis, through applying the HCC model of tree shrew (Tupaia belangeri chinensis), this study was designed to compare gene expression levels between HCC induced by different factors and their corresponding biopsies taken before HCC formation.

GSK-3beta phosphorylation and alteration of beta-catenin in hepatocellular carcinoma.

The aim of this study is to investigate the potential correlation between the expression of phosphorylated glycogen synthase kinase-3beta (phospho-GSK-3beta) and beta-catenin, and the mutations of beta-catenin gene at the consensus GSK-3beta phosphorylation site. The reason for this approach is to gain a better understanding of the molecular mechanisms of hepatocarcinogenesis in Malaysia. The expression of phospho-GSK-3beta and beta-catenin by immunohistochemistry and the mutations of beta-catenin were studied in 23 hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and surrounding tissues.

[Alteration of p53 gene during tree shrews' hepatocarcinogenesis].

Objective: To detect the expression and variation of p53 gene during tree shrews' hepatocarcinogenesis induced by hepatitis B virus (HBV) and aflatoxin B1 (AFB1).

Methods: Tree shrews were divided into four groups: the tree shrews were infected with HBV and fed with AFB1 in group A, only infected with HBV in group B, fed with AFB1 alone in group C, and normal control in group D. All the tree shrews were performed liver biopsy every 15 weeks.