Analysis of ODC and c-myc gene expression in hepatocellular carcinoma by in situ hybridization and immunohistochemistry

• Published in: The journal of histochemistry and cytochemistry Vol. 41; no. 8; pp. 1185 - 1196
• Main Authors: Gan, FY, Gesell, MS, Alousi, M, Luk, GD
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Los Angeles, CA Histochemical Soc 01.08.1993; SAGE Publications
• Subjects: Carcinoma, Hepatocellular - enzymology; Humans; Immunohistochemistry; In Situ Hybridization; Liver Neoplasms - enzymology; Ornithine Decarboxylase - analysis; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-myc - analysis; RNA - analysis
• ISSN: 0022-1554; 1551-5044
• DOI: 10.1177/41.8.7687263

We quantitated mRNA and protein for ornithine decarboxylase (ODC) and c-myc in formalin-fixed liver sections from 25 specimens of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and seven normal livers by a non-radiolabeled in situ hybridization technique and immunohistochemistry. This non-radioactive in situ hybridization technique was highly specific, with virtually no background, and permitted quantitative analysis based on optical density. Reaction products were quantitated with computer-assisted microdensitometry. Samples were classified as normal, adjacent uninvolved, cirrhosis, well-differentiated HCC, and poorly-differentiated HCC. There was a progressive increase in all four parameters measured, ODC mRNA and protein, and c-myc mRNA and protein, from normal, to adjacent uninvolved liver, to cirrhosis, to well-differentiated HCC, to poorly-differentiated HCC. The sole exception was that ODC mRNA was lowest in cirrhosis. The patterns of ODC and c-myc gene expression are similar in HCC. The quantitative detection of ODC mRNA, c-myc mRNA, and their protein products in hepatocellular carcinoma and cirrhosis by in situ hybridization and immunohistochemical techniques may have a potential role in the study of hepatocarcinogenesis and in the diagnosis of hepatocellular carcinoma.