Analysis of N-ras gene mutation and p53 gene expression in human hepatocellular carcinomas

AIM To study the relationship between N-ras gene mutation and p53 gene expression in the carcinogenesis and the development of human hepatocellular carcinomas (HCC), METHODS The N-ras gene mutation and the p53 gene expression were analyzed in 29 cases of HCC by polymerase chain reaction-single strand conformation polymorphism (PCR-SSCP) and immunohistochemistry. RESULTS Thirteen cases of HCCs were p53 positive (44.8%), which showed a rather high percentage of p53 gene mutation in Guangxi, The aberrations at N-ras codon 2 - 37 were found in 79.31% of HCCs and 80.77% of adjacent non-tumorous liver tissues. More than 2 point mutations of N-ras gene were observed in 22 cases (75.86%). Twelve cases (41.37%) of HCCs showed both N-ras gene mutation and p53 gene expression. CONCLUSIONS N-ras gene and p53 gene may be involved in the carcinogenesis and the development of HCC, That 38% of HCCs with N-ras gene mutation did not express p53 protein indicates that some other genes or factors may participate in the carcinogenesis and the development of HCC.