Correlation between hypomethylation of c-myc and c-N-ras oncogenes and pathological changes in human hepatocellular carcinoma
Shen, L.; Qui, D.; Fang, J.
Zhonghua Zhong Liu Za Zhi 19(3): 173-176
1997
ISSN/ISBN: 0253-3766 PMID: 10920889 Document Number: 480936
Objective: To evaluate the molecular biological mechanism of human hepatocellular carcinoma-DNA methylation pattern of certain oncogenes. Methods: Methylation patterns of c-myc, c-N-ras oncogenes in human hepatocellular carcinoma were studied by the Southern blot technique and HpaII/MspI restriction endonucleases. The pathological changes were also analyzed. Results: The c-myc and c-N-ras oncogene fragments were hypomethylated in DNA samples derived from cancerous (30.3% and 60.1%) and adjacent paracancerous (12.1% and 30.3%) liver tissues. Hypomethylation of c-myc gene in multifocal type was significant as compared with unifocal type (P lt O. 05). It is also found that c-N-ras gene hypomethylation had a strong correlation with tumor size (P lt 0.01). Conclusion: The decrease of DNA methylation is present at the stage of liver carcinoma, and hypomethylation of c-myc, c-N-ras genes is correlated with the tendency of infiltration and metastasis.