Abstract

EXPRESSION OF SOMATOSTATIN RECEPTOR TYPE II AS DIAGNOSTIC AND PROGNOSTIC BIO-MARKER OF HEPATOCELLULAR CARCINOMA

Abdel-hamid NM, Atef E. Abd El-Baky*, Mohamed O. and Thabet KM.

ABSTRACT

Hepatocellular carcinoma is a sequel of chronic liver disease and shows high and increasing prevalence worldwide. In most cases it is associated with the presence of liver cirrhosis and has a poor prognosis. Estimation the expression of somatostatin receptor type II and caspase as diagnostic and prognostic biomarkers in different stages of hepatocellular carcinoma are the aim of this study. METHODS: Thirty two albino mice (20–25 g) were randomly divided into four groups (n=8), the first three groups used for induction of hepatocellular carcinoma, where all mice in the three groups received sub necrotic single dose of DENA 90mg/kg body weight in 0.9% normal saline I.P. The first three groups were sacrificed after 8, 16 and 24 weeks. Fourth group (control group), served as normal healthy group received saline vehicle and was sacrificed after 24 weeks. RESULTS: The mRNA expression of SSTR2 was proportional to each stage of HCC development. The levels of SSTR2 mRNA at 8, 16 and 24 months were 2.71, 4.1, 5.32 fold of that of the control respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Expression of SSTR-II and caspase along with α-fetoprotein (AFP) expression can be used as a useful parameter for diagnosis and to evaluate the prognosis of HCC.

Keywords: Somatostatin, Caspase, Hepatocellular carcinoma, Liver cirrhosis, ?- fetoprotein.