Published online Dec 15, 2003. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v9.i12.2863
Revised: May 26, 2003
Accepted: June 2, 2003
Published online: December 15, 2003
AIM: To investigate the expression of proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) and CD44mRNA in colorectal cancer with venous invasion and its relationship with liver metastasis.
METHODS: Reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) was used to detect the expression of PCNA and CD44mRNA in 31 cases of colorectal cancer with venous invasion.
RESULTS: Positive expression rates of PCNA and CD44mRNA in colorectal cancer were higher than those without liver metastasis (P < 0.05 and P < 0.01). In case of colorectal cancer with liver metastasis, strongly positive rates of PCNA and CD44mRNA were 94.1% and 70.6%, respectively, significantly higher than those without liver metastasis. There was a positive relationship between the expressions of PCNA and CD44mRNA (r = 0.67, P < 0.05).
CONCLUSION: Detection of PCNA and CD44mRNA expression in colorectal cancer may be useful for evaluating liver metastasis of cancer cells.