Expressed proteome analysis of human hepatocellular carcinoma in nude mice (LCI-D20) with high metastasis potential.

We report for the first time an expressed proteome for human hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in nude mice model. Most cases of human liver cancer are HCC with highly metastatic ability. Therefore, the early prediction or diagnosis and effective treatment are the key points of research. We have previously successfully established a human HCC nude mice model (LCI-D20) with high metastasis potential. To understand better the tumor biology of HCC it is worth to explore the relativity of all expressed protein profiles in the LCI-D20 HCC nude mice model. With advanced proteomics technologies, we have carried out a proteomic analysis with following stages: protein sample preparation of cancer tissue, including total cellular extraction and sequential fractionation, 2-DE and 2-D LC separation, ESI/MALDI-MS/MS identification, as well as data-dependent bioinformatics. The identified proteins were classified bioinformatically respective to their function, biological process and intracellular localization. Some important proteins found in HCC, e.g. metabolism enzymes, proteins regulating cell motility, signaling proteins, and heat shock proteins, are discussed in terms of their metastasis.