Cytokine Release Syndrome-Associated Colitis: Insights From a Case of Rituximab-Induced Pancolitis

Rituximab (RTX), a widely used monoclonal antibody for hematologic malignancies and rheumatologic disorders, is known for infusion-related reactions. However, its potential to induce colitis is often overlooked. We present an 85-year-old woman with chronic lymphocytic leukemia experiencing severe adverse effects during her fourth RTX infusion, including abdominal pain, hypotension, and bright red blood per rectum. Computed tomography of the abdomen and pelvis with contrast revealed pancolonic mural wall thickening without perforation. Prompt treatment with vasopressors and intravenous fluids led to symptom resolution within 24 hours. We highlighted the importance of recognizing RTX-induced colitis and discussed and depicted immunological dysregulation mechanisms involved.

Rare Case of Pediatric Post-transplant Lymphoproliferative Disorder Presenting With Pleural Masses Complicated by Pleural Effusions

Post-transplant lymphoproliferative disorder is a complication in organ transplant recipients characterized by uncontrolled proliferation of B-lymphocytes, occurring in 6% of pediatric patients, with risk factors including primary Epstein-Barr virus infection, intensity of immunosuppression, and cytomegalovirus infection. The clinical symptoms are often nonspecific, and it is associated with a high mortality rate if left untreated. We describe a rare case of post-transplant lymphoproliferative disorder who presented with pleural-based masses resulting in pleural effusions.

Idiopathic myointimal hyperplasia of the mesenteric veins: A systematic review and individual patient data regression analysis

BACKGROUND AND AIM

Idiopathic myointimal hyperplasia of the mesenteric veins (IMHMV) is an uncommon cause of colonic ischemia for which surgical treatment is typically curative. We describe clinical, radiologic, and endoscopic findings in IMHMV patients to provide clinicians with a framework for pre-surgical identification of this rare disease.

METHODS

We performed a systematic review of seven databases for IMHMV cases and identified additional cases from Yale New Haven Hospital records. To identify features specifically associated with colonic ischemia due to IMHMV, we performed multivariate logistic regression analysis incorporating data from a large cohort of patients with biopsy-proven ischemic colitis.

RESULTS

A total of 124 patients with IMHMV were identified (80% male, mean age 53 years, 56% Caucasian). Presenting symptoms were most commonly abdominal pain (86%) and diarrhea (68%). The most affected areas were the sigmoid colon (91%) and rectum (61%). Complications associated with diagnostic delay occurred in 29% of patients. Radiologic vascular abnormalities including non-opacification of the inferior mesenteric vein were observed in 35% of patients. Of the patients, 97% underwent curative surgical resection. Compared with non-IMHMV colonic ischemia, IMHMV was significantly associated with younger age, male sex, absence of rectal bleeding on presentation, rectal involvement, and mucosal ulcerations on endoscopy.

CONCLUSION

IMHMV is a rare, underreported cause of colonic ischemia that predominantly involves the rectosigmoid. Our findings suggest younger age, rectal involvement, and absence of rectal bleeding as clinical features to help identify select patients presenting with colonic ischemia as having higher likelihood of IMHMV and therefore consideration of upfront surgical management.

A strategy to improve the solubility and bioavailability of the insoluble drug piperlongumine through albumin nanoparticles

Piperlongumine (PL) is a biologically active alkaloid derived from peppers, has significant cytotoxic effects on cancer with no cytotoxicity. This study used Nab^TM technology to prepare PL albumin nanoparticles (PL-BSA-NPs) to improve water solubility and bioavailability. We carried out a pharmacological evaluation of the PL-BSA-NPs. The morphological profile of the PL-BSA-NPs was relatively uniform, with an average particle size of approximately 210 nm, with drug load of 2.1% and encapsulation rate of 87.6%. PL-BSA-NPs were stable for 4 weeks when stored at 4°C. In vitro release behavior of the PL-BSA-NPs showed a sustained release, with a cumulative release of 67.24% in approximately 24 hours. The pharmacokinetic properties of PL-BSA-NPs were shown that PL-BSA-NPs could maintain a certain level of blood drug concentration for a long time, thus demonstrating the sustained release and increased bioavailability of PL. Finally, we investigated the in vitro antitumor activity of the PL-BSA-NPs and found that PL can significantly inhibit HepG2 cell proliferation, and that PL-BSA-NPs enhanced the inhibitory effect of PL on this proliferative effect. Thus, we concluded that PL can destroy liver cancer cells by increasing ROS levels. These results suggested that PL-BSA-NPs show promising potential as a targeted anti-tumor drug.

Differentiating infected focal liver lesions from malignant mimickers: value of ultrasound-based radiomics

AIM

To establish an ultrasound-based radiomics model through machine learning methods and then to assess the ability of the model to differentiate infected focal liver lesions from malignant mimickers.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A total of 104 patients with infected focal liver lesions and 485 patients with malignant hepatic tumours were included, consisting of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), cholangiocarcinoma (CC), combined hepatocellular-cholangiocarcinoma (cHCC-CC), and liver metastasis. Radiomics features were extracted from grey-scale ultrasound images. Feature selection and predictive modelling were carried out by dimensionality reduction methods and classifiers. The diagnostic effect of the prediction mode was assessed by receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis.

RESULTS

In total, 5,234 radiomics features were extracted from grey-scale ultrasound image of every focal liver lesion. The ultrasound-based radiomics model had a favourable predictive value for differentiating infected focal liver lesions from malignant hepatic tumours, with an area under the curve (AUC) of 0.887 and 0.836 (HCC group), 0.896 and 0.766 (CC group), 0.944 and 0.754 (cHCC-CC group), 0.918 and 0.808 (liver metastasis group), and 0.949 and 0.745 (malignant hepatic tumour group) for the training set and validation set, respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

Ultrasound-based radiomics is helpful in differentiating infected focal liver lesions from malignant mimickers and has the potential for use as a supplement to conventional grey-scale ultrasound and contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS).

Observed risk of recurrent bleeding and thromboembolic disease in COVID-19 patients with gastrointestinal bleeding

Background and study aim  COVID-19 patients are at increased risk for venous thromboembolism (VTE) requiring the use of anticoagulation. Gastrointestinal bleeding (GIB) is increasingly being reported, complicating the decision to initiate or resume anticoagulation as providers balance the risk of thrombotic disease with the risk of bleeding. Our study aimed to assess rebleeding rates in COVID-19 patients with GIB and determine whether endoscopy reduces these rebleeding events. We also report 30-day VTE and mortality rates. Methods  This was a retrospective study evaluating 56 COVID-19 patients with GIB for the following outcomes: 30-day rebleeding rate, 30-day VTE rate, effects of endoscopic intervention on the rate of rebleeding, and 30-day mortality. Results  The overall rates of VTE and rebleeding events were 27 % and 41 %, respectively. Rebleeding rates in patients managed conservatively was 42 % compared with 40 % in the endoscopy group. Overall, 87 % of those who underwent invasive intervention resumed anticoagulation vs. 55 % of those managed medically ( P  = 0.02). The all-cause 30-day mortality and GIB-related deaths were 32 % and 9 %, respectively. Mortality rates between the endoscopic and conservative management groups were not statistically different (25 % vs. 39 %; P  = 0.30). Conclusions  Although rebleeding rates were similar between the endoscopic and conservative management groups, patients who underwent intervention were more likely to restart anticoagulation. While endoscopy appeared to limit the duration that anticoagulation was withheld, larger studies are needed to further characterize its direct effect on mortality outcomes in these complex patients.

Diverticulosis, Diverticulitis, and Diverticular Bleeding

Diverticulosis is an anatomic change in the colon that is characterized by outpouching of the mucosa and submucosa through the muscularis. Its prevalence increases with age so most of the elderly patients have this condition. Although diverticulosis is common, diverticular disease, in which there are clinical sequelae, is rare. This collective term includes diverticulitis, diverticular hemorrhage and less well-defined entities such as segmental colitis associated with diverticulosis, and symptomatic uncomplicated diverticular disease. Diverticulitis presents as acute lower abdominal pain, and initial management traditionally includes antibiotics, with surgery reserved for complicated disease, although newer evidence questions the optimal role and timing of both interventions.

Association of the TLR4-MyD88-JNK signaling pathway with inflammatory response in intracranial hemorrhage rats and its effect on neuronal apoptosis

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the association of Toll-like receptor 4-myeloid differential protein-88- c-Jun N-terminal kinase (TLR4-MyD88-JNK) signaling pathway with inflammatory response in intracranial hemorrhage (ICH) rats and its effect on neuronal apoptosis.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

The autologous blood was drawn and injected into the brain to establish the rat model of ICH (model group), and the control group was set up. The neurological behavior Longa score was given. The blood and brain tissues of rats were then collected to detect the serum indexes, including glucose (GLU), creatinine (CR), K+ and Na+, and the content of interleukin-6 (IL-6), IL-1β and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) in each group. The neuronal apoptosis of brain tissues was detected via terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated dUTP nick end labeling (TUNEL) staining. Moreover, the expressions of apoptosis- and TLR4-MyD88-JNK pathway-related genes and proteins were detected via Reverse Transcription-Polymerase Chain Reaction (RT-PCR) and Western blotting. Finally, the association of TLR4-MyD88-JNK signaling pathway with the inflammatory response in ICH rats and its effect on neuronal apoptosis were completely observed.

RESULTS

MiR-23b was dramatically down-regulated in CC and the low miR-23b expressions were associated with the poor prognosis and worse OS of CC patients. Additionally, the functional assays demonstrated that miR-23b overexpression obviously repressed CC cell proliferation, invasion and migration abilities through the regulation of the AKT/mTOR pathway and the epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) progress. Moreover, the luciferase reporter assay indicated that six1 was one functional target for miR-23b in CC cells, indicating that the inhibitory functions of miR-23b in CC cells were partially regulated by six1. Moreover, miR-23b restoration could prominently repress tumor growth in vivo.

CONCLUSIONS

The TLR4-MyD88-JNK signaling pathway can facilitate the inflammatory response in ICH rats, thereby promoting the neuronal apoptosis.

MRI-based radiogenomics analysis for predicting genetic alterations in oncogenic signalling pathways in invasive breast carcinoma

AIM

To investigate the effect of radiomics in the assessment of alterations in canonical cancer pathways in breast cancer.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Eighty-eight biopsy-proven breast cancer cases were included in the present study. Radiomics features were extracted from T1-weighted sagittal dynamic contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) images. Radiomics signatures were developed to predict genetic alterations in the cell cycle, Myc, PI3K, RTK/RAS, and p53 signalling pathways by using hypothesis testing combined with least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) regression analysis. The predictive powers of the models were examined by the area under the curve (AUC) of the receiver operating characteristic curve.

RESULTS

A total of 5,234 radiomics features were obtained from MRI images based on the tumour region of interest. Hypothesis tests screened 250, 229, 156, 785, and 319 radiomics features that were differentially displayed between cell cycle, Myc, PI3K, RTK/RAS, and p53 alterations and no alteration status. According to the LASSO algorithm, 11, 12, 12, 15, and 13 features were identified for the construction of the radiomics signatures to predict cell cycle, Myc, PI3K, RTK/RAS, and p53 alterations, with AUC values of 0.933, 0.926, 0.956, 0.940, and 0.886, respectively. The cell cycle radiomics score correlated closely with the RTK/RAS and p53 radiomics scores. These signatures were also dysregulated in patients with different oestrogen receptor, progesterone receptor, and human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 statuses.

CONCLUSION

MRI-based radiogenomics analysis exhibits excellent performance in predicting genetic pathways alterations, thus providing a novel approach for non-invasively obtaining genetic-level molecular characteristics of tumours.

Can bone scans guide therapy with radium-223 dichloride for prostate cancer bone metastases?

BACKGROUND

Radium-223 dichloride (Ra-223 Xofigo) has recently been approved as an addition to the host of available therapies in the USA as a treatment option for metastatic castrate-resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC) with bone metastases. This study describes our initial experience in patients treated with Ra-223 dichloride. It attempts to optimize patients' selection for the best outcome from Ra-223 dichloride therapy.

METHODS

Consecutive patients who were referred for treatment with Ra-223 dichloride were prospectively followed. Patients' demographics, functional status per the Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) performance score, pain level per the numeric rating score (NRS), prostate-specific antigen (PSA), creatinine, and hematological values were compared at baseline and at the end of therapy. Patients also had a bone scan before starting therapy and at the end of therapy. Patients were divided into the favorable response (FR) group if their pain and/or functional status improved and the unfavorable response (UR) group if they did not improve, deteriorated, or deceased. Bone scan findings before and after Ra-223 dichloride therapy were compared in both the FR and UR groups.

RESULTS

Twenty patients were treated with Ra-223 dichloride. Twelve patients had innumerable bone metastases, three patients had super scans, and three patients had two to seven bone lesions. Two patients were lost to follow-up after the first injection. There were eight patients in the FR group and 10 patients in the UR group. Patients with UR had mean ECOG and NRS pain scores of 1.3 and 5.0 versus 0.8 and 4.4 in the FR group. The mean PSA and creatinine levels in the UR group were 445.2 ng/mL and 1.2 mg/dL versus 22.7 ng/mL and 1.1 mg/dL in the FR group. The mean hemoglobin, platelets, and absolute neutrophil values were 11.2 g/dL, 314.9 K/cmm, and 7.3 K/cmm in the UR group versus 11.6 g/dL, 207.0 K/cmm, and 6.2 K/cmm in the FR group. Seven of the eight patients with FR had a bone scan at the end of therapy showing improvement in five patients, a mixed response in one patient, and progression in another patient. Five patients in the UR group completed five or six injections and had bone scans showing flare of bone metastases in three patients, progression in one patient, and improvement in the fifth patient. Three patients in the UR group died after the first or second injections. Two of these patients had baseline super scans and the third one had widespread bone metastases.

CONCLUSION

mCRPC patients with lower PSA levels at baseline and fewer bone lesions are more likely to respond favorably to Ra-223 dichloride therapy.

Strategic Human Resource Management and Organizational Performance in Singapore

Many academics and practitioners have noted the emergence of a new generation of workers characterized by decreased company loyalty and increased expectations on various aspects of work life. At the same time, increasing emphasis on knowledge-based competition has accelerated the importance of human capital and hence the strategic role of the human resource management (HRM) function in any organization. This article includes a study of 191 Singapore firms. The study found a positive relationship between various aspects of a company’s strategic HRM policies/practices and its HR performance. However, the relationship seems weaker when it comes to a firm’s financial outcome. The study reveals that these two aspects of organizational performance may be affected by different HRM components. It also discusses how proper management of human capital can be a critical source of competitive advantage.

Effects of common polymorphisms rs2910164 in miR-146a and rs11614913 in miR-196a2 on susceptibility to colorectal cancer: a systematic review meta-analysis

PURPOSE

Emerging evidence has shown that single nucleotide polymorphisms occurred in microRNAs may contribute to the development of colorectal cancer (CRC). rs2910164 in miR-146a and rs11614913 in miR-196a2 are suggested to be associated with the susceptibility to CRC, but individually published studies revealed inconclusive results. To systematically summarize the possible correlationship between these polymorphisms and CRC risk, we performed this meta-analysis.

METHODS

We retrieved the relevant articles of the associations between these two microRNA polymorphisms and susceptibility to CRC for the period up to July 1, 2013. A total of seven articles were identified with 2,143 cases and 2,457 controls for miR-146a rs2910164, 1,594 cases and 2,252 controls for miR-196a2 rs11614913. Odds ratio and 95 % confidence interval were calculated to investigate the strength of the association.

RESULTS

The pooled analysis showed that miR-146a rs2910164 did not reveal any correlation with CRC susceptibility. However, a decreased risk was observed between miR-196a2 rs11614913 and CRC in all genetic models.

CONCLUSION

Our current meta-analysis demonstrates that miR-196a2 rs11614913 most likely contributes to decreased risk of CRC, whereas miR-146a rs2910164 may not be associated with the susceptibility to CRC.

A novel growth suppressor gene on chromosome 17p13.3 with a high frequency of mutation in human hepatocellular carcinoma

Previous studies have shown that there is a high frequency of loss of heterozygosity (LOH) on chromosome 17p13.3 in hepatocellular carcinoma [HCC (M. Fujimori et al., Cancer Res., 51: 89-93, 1991; H. Nagai et al., Oncogene, 14: 2927-2933, 1997; V. Boige et al., Cancer Res., 57: 1986-1990, 1997; Z. Piao et al., Int. J. Cancer, 75: 29-33, 1998; and B. Charroux et al., J. Cell Biol., 148: 1177-1186, 2000)]. The minimum region of LOH on chromosome 17p13.3 in HCC has been defined within the region between D17S643 and D17S1574. Moreover, D17S926 in the minimum region of LOH has the highest frequency of LOH, and its sequencing analysis has been accomplished. In this region, 6 of 13 novel genes have been characterized (X. Zhao, D. Wan, M. He, Yu. Ye, Yi. He, L. Han, M. Guo, Y. Huang, W. Qin, M-W. Wang, W. Chong, J. Chen, L. Zhang, N. Yang, B. Xu, M. Wu, L. Zuo, and J. Gu. A high frequency LOH region on chromosome 17p13.3 in human HCC with densely clustered genes identified, submitted for publication). Here we describe the cloning and characterization of one of these novel genes, designated HCC suppressor 1 (HCCS1), located at this region. HCCS1 had 18 exons, and its full-length cDNA was 2.0 kb. The protein expression product of HCCS1 was located in mitochondria. HCCS1 had a high frequency of mutations in HCC samples, whereas no alteration has been found in matched noncancerous liver tissues. Immunohistochemistry revealed a significantly higher expression of HCCS1 in the noncancerous liver tissues (33 of 35 samples) than in the HCC samples (2 of 35 samples). Transfection of HCCS1 cDNA into the HCC cell line remarkably reduced the efficiency of its colony formation and inhibited tumor growth in nude mice. Taken together, these findings strongly suggest a potential role of HCCS1 as a HCC putative suppressor gene.

Computational analysis and prediction for exons of PAC579 genomic sequence

To isolate the novel genes related to human hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), we sequenced P1-derived artificial chromosome PAC579 (D17S926 locus) mapped in the minimum LOH (loss of heterozygosity) deletion region of chromosome 17p13.3 in HCC. Four novel genes mapped in this genomic sequence area were isolated and cloned by wet-lab experiments, and the exons of these genes were located. 0-60 kb of this genomic sequence including the genes of interest was scanned with five different computational exon prediction programs as well as four splice site recognition programs. After analyzing and comparing the computationally predicted results with the wet-lab experiment results, some potential exons were predicted in the genomic sequence by using these programs.

Allelic loss and gain, but not genomic instability, as the major somatic mutation in primary hepatocellular carcinoma

To identify genetic abnormalities in primary hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), we performed microsatellite analysis (MSA) on 60 Chinese HCC specimens. Utilizing a semi-quantitative MSA and 292 highly polymorphic markers spanning all 22 autosomes, we found that somatic allelic imbalance (AI) occurred frequently in HCC. To evaluate the nature of the AI, comparative genomic hybridization was performed on 20 HCC specimens. The combined use of these two methods revealed frequent allelic loss on 17p, 9p21-p23, 4q, 16q21-q23.3, 13q, 8p21-p23, and 6q24-q27, whereas there was frequent allelic gain on 1q, 17q, and 8q24. The region with the highest incidence of genomic imbalance was 17p13 (65%), followed by 9p21-p23 (55%), 4q (35-51%), 16q21-q23.3 (52%), 17p12 (49%), 13q (39-46%), 8p21-p23 (41-45%), 8q24 (41%), and 1q32 (40%). In addition, aberrations of 19p13.3, 16p13.3, 13q33-q34, 9q13-31, and 7q were reported for the first time. The presence of a close correlation of 17p13 deletion with abnormalities of some other loci implies that 17p13 could play a crucial role in oncogenesis. Interestingly, microsatellite instability was rarely seen in our patients, in contrast to that observed in European HCC samples.

[Surgical management for colon cancer complicated with acute obstruction]

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the feasibility of tumor resection and stage-I anastomosis for colon cancer complicated with acute obstruction.

METHODS

Seventeen colon cancer patients complicated with acute obstruction admitted from 1994-1998 into our hospital, together with 1,872 cases collected from 40 reports published in the same interval in China, a total of 1,889 cases were analyzed as to the results of their surgical management.

RESULTS

In the whole group, there was an incidence of 3.1% anastomotic leak, 6.6% wound infection and 1.1% pulmonary infection. Ninety-three patients died of operation with an operation mortality of 4.9%. Postoperative 5-year survival rate was 26.0%-48.0% in patients with stage-I operation. It was 20.0%-38.0% in staged operation.

CONCLUSION

Tumor resection with stage-I anastomosis for colon cancer complicated with acute obstruction is acceptable giving relatively satisfactory results. Technique, bowel cleansing during the operation, rational use of antibiotics and adherence to proper indications are crucial for stage-I operation.

[Expression level of c-erbB-2 protein correlates with the prognosis of patients with colorectal cancer]

OBJECTIVE

To study the expression level of c-erbB-2 gene in colorectal cancer and its correlation to prognosis.

METHODS

In 173 colorectal carcinoma patients, c-erbB-2 protein was examined immunohistochemically and patients' prognosis was evaluated by retrospective analysis combined with follow-up data.

RESULTS

The immunohistochemical staining of c-erbB-2 protein was found in the cytoplasm and membrane with a positive rate of 52% in tumor tissue. The 1-, 3-, 5- and 10-year survival rate of patients with negative c-erbB-2 expression was 98.7%, 92.4%, 87.1% and 84.1% respectively; that of the patients with weakly positive c-erbB-2 expression was 94.5%, 76.1%, 72.3% and 68.3%, respectively. In contrast, that of patients with strongly positive c-erbB-2 expression was 91.0%, 43.5%, 36.8% and 23.4%, respectively. The survival rates among the three groups of patients were statistically different. Multivariate survival analysis by Cox regression model showed that c-erbB-2 expression level was a risky prognostic factor for colorectal cancer.

CONCLUSION

The expression level of c-erbB-2 protein is an independent prognostic factor in colorectal carcinoma.

[Distal intramural spread of rectal cancer studied on large slices]

OBJECTIVE

To study the length of distal intramural spread of rectal cancers, and provide evidence for anal-preserving operations.

METHODS

Specimens of ninety-eight patients with rectal cancers who had been operated from August, 1996 to October, 1997, were collected and their large pathologic slices examined. The length of intramural spread distal to rectal cancers was measured under light microscope. The actual length of spread in live conditions was estimated according to equal proportional shrinkage.

RESULTS

In 48 of the 98 patients, distal intramural spread of the tumor was observed. The length of spread varied from 0.1 cm to 2.5 cm. In 77% of the 48 patients, the length of tumor spread was < 0.5 cm. In only 5 patients was the distance of spread > or = 1.0 cm. Four different ways of tumor invasion were observed: contiguous, lymphatic, neural and venous invasion. Distal intramural spread could be via mucosa, submucosa, inner circular muscular layer, outer longitudinal muscular layer or serosa, either separately or concomitantly.

CONCLUSION

Distal intramural spread of rectal cancers can be detected in about 1/2 of the specimens examined on large pathologic slice. In most of them the distance of spread is < 0.5 cm. Occasionally it may be > or = 1 cm. To set the edge of resection > or = 3 cm distal to the rectal cancers is relatively safe in anal-preserving operations.

[Analysis on loss of heterozygosity of chromosome 17p13.3 in hepatocellular carcinoma and construction of genomic contig in the deleted region]

OBJECTIVE

To detect the status of loss of heterozygosity (LOH) on chromosome 17p13.3 in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and determine a minimum region of LOH as well as construct genomic contig in LOH region.

METHODS

Variable number tandem repeat (VNTR) and RFLP markers examined by Southern hybridization were used to detect LOH of HCC. Microsatellite markers amplified by PCR were detected for LOH by denatured PAGE. Using microsatellite primers, 3 rounds of PCR amplification were carried out to screen positive genomic clones. The contig was constructed by PCR detecting the reaction between microsatellite markers and individual genomic clone.

RESULT

Fifty-four paired HCC samples were analysed with 16 polymorphic markers on chromosome 17p13.3. The data revealed that the region between D17S5 and D17S34 had a high rate of LOH (> 63%), but three markers (proximal to D17S5) toward centromere had low or no LOH. TP53 marker on chromosome 17p13.1 had a LOH rate of 31% which was lower than that on D17S5-D17S34 region. No LOH was found at D17S34, D17S1866 (proximal to telomere) and D17S5, D17S1574 (distal to telomere) in 2 cases of HCC. However, there was LOH between D17S849 and D17S1574 in some cases. In LOH region, genomic clones relative to 18 of markers were obtained. A contig covering 9 markers was constructed.

CONCLUSION

Determination of the minimum LOH region on chromosome 17p13.3 in HCC and the construction of genomic clone contig provide basis for further identification of putative new tumor suppressor gene(s) in HCC.