Immunohistochemical analysis and mutational analyses of β-catenin, Axin family and APC genes in hepatocellular carcinomas
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- Published online on: May 1, 2004 https://doi.org/10.3892/ijo.24.5.1077
- Pages: 1077-1083
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Abstract
Several lines of evidence show that the development of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) requires an accumulation of genetic alterations. However, molecular mechanism in HCC carcinogenesis remains unsolved. A total of 89 HCC samples were analyzed in this study to determine how alterations in the Wnt signaling pathway associate with the carcinogenesis of HCC. β-catenin immunohistochemistry showed positive nuclear staining in 24 (27.0%) of the 89 HCC samples, indicating the existence of alterations in the Wnt signaling pathway in those 24 HCC samples. Mutations in the β-catenin, Axin1 and Axin2 genes were detected in 10 (41.7%), 13 (54.2%) and 9 (37.5%) of the 24 β-catenin-positive samples, respectively, but no mutation was detected in the APC gene. In conclusion, in addition to mutations in the β-catenin gene, mutations in the Axin1 and Axin2 genes may alter the Wnt signaling pathway, resulting in accumulation of β-catenin.
