TY - JOUR
T1 - Differential diagnosis of hepatocellular carcinoma from metastatic tumors in the liver using microRNA expression
AU - Barshack, Iris
AU - Meiri, Eti
AU - Rosenwald, Shai
AU - Lebanony, Danit
AU - Bronfeld, Meital
AU - Aviel-Ronen, Sarit
AU - Rosenblatt, Kinneret
AU - Polak-Charcon, Sylvie
AU - Leizerman, Ilit
AU - Ezagouri, Meital
AU - Zepeniuk, Merav
AU - Shabes, Norberto
AU - Cohen, Lahav
AU - Tabak, Sarit
AU - Cohen, Dalia
AU - Bentwich, Zvi
AU - Rosenfeld, Nitzan
PY - 2010/8/1
Y1 - 2010/8/1
N2 - Distinguishing hepatocellular carcinoma from metastatic tumors in the liver is of great practical importance, with significant therapeutic and prognostic implications. This differential diagnosis can be difficult because metastatic cancers in the liver, especially adenocarcinomas, may mimic the morphology and immunoexpression of hepatocellular carcinoma. Biomarkers that are specifically expressed in either hepatocellular carcinoma or metastatic adenocarcinoma can therefore be useful diagnostic tools. To find such biomarkers, we studied microRNA expression in 144 tumor samples using custom microarrays. Hsa-miR-141 and hsa-miR-200c, microRNAs that promote epithelial phenotypes, had significantly higher levels in non-hepatic epithelial tumors. In contrast, endothelial-associated hsa-miR-126 showed higher expression levels in hepatocellular carcinomas. Combinations of these microRNAs accurately identified primary hepatocellular carcinoma from metastatic adenocarcinoma in the liver. These findings were validated using quantitative real-time PCR to measure microRNA expression in additional samples. Thus, the tissue-specific expression patterns of microRNAs make them useful biomarkers for the diagnosis of liver malignancies.
AB - Distinguishing hepatocellular carcinoma from metastatic tumors in the liver is of great practical importance, with significant therapeutic and prognostic implications. This differential diagnosis can be difficult because metastatic cancers in the liver, especially adenocarcinomas, may mimic the morphology and immunoexpression of hepatocellular carcinoma. Biomarkers that are specifically expressed in either hepatocellular carcinoma or metastatic adenocarcinoma can therefore be useful diagnostic tools. To find such biomarkers, we studied microRNA expression in 144 tumor samples using custom microarrays. Hsa-miR-141 and hsa-miR-200c, microRNAs that promote epithelial phenotypes, had significantly higher levels in non-hepatic epithelial tumors. In contrast, endothelial-associated hsa-miR-126 showed higher expression levels in hepatocellular carcinomas. Combinations of these microRNAs accurately identified primary hepatocellular carcinoma from metastatic adenocarcinoma in the liver. These findings were validated using quantitative real-time PCR to measure microRNA expression in additional samples. Thus, the tissue-specific expression patterns of microRNAs make them useful biomarkers for the diagnosis of liver malignancies.
KW - HCC
KW - MiRNA
KW - Molecular diagnostics
KW - Pathology
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=77954382888&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/j.biocel.2009.02.021
DO - 10.1016/j.biocel.2009.02.021
M3 - Article
C2 - 20619223
AN - SCOPUS:77954382888
SN - 1357-2725
VL - 42
SP - 1355
EP - 1362
JO - International Journal of Biochemistry and Cell Biology
JF - International Journal of Biochemistry and Cell Biology
IS - 8
ER -
