目的 研究探讨RhoC基因mRNA和蛋白的过量表达与肝细胞癌（HCC）的发生发展和侵袭转移的关系。方法 采用逆转录聚合酶链反应（RT2PCR）和Western印迹法，检测25例HCC及其癌旁肝组织、4例门静脉主干癌栓或肝外转移灶RhoCmRNA和蛋白的表达；同时采用PCR产物单链构象多态性（PCR2SSCP）银染法检测RhoC基因的突变情况。结果 HCC组织和癌旁肝组织中均可检测到RhoC基因mRNA和蛋白的表达， RhoCmRNA在HCC组织中的表达较癌旁肝组织高，其吸光度（A）比值分别为1.8±1.1和1.0±0.7，差异有显著性（P<0.01）；RhoC蛋白在HCC组织中的表达同样高于癌旁肝组织，其A比值分别为33992±10384和17342±9998， 差异有显著性（P<0.01）。4例门静脉主干癌栓或肝外转移灶中的RhoC基因mRNA和蛋白的表达量分别为3.3±0.5和63865±9116，较HCC肝内病灶高，差异有显著性（P<0.01）；RhoCmRNA和蛋白在分化较差、结节数较多、有静脉浸润或伴有肝外转移灶的HCC中过量表达（P<0.05）。全部HCCCR2SSCP银染法分析均未发现异常泳动条带。结论 RhoC基因的过量表达与HCC的发生发展和侵袭转移密切相关，且可能是通过过量表达而非突变发挥作用。

AIM: To investigate the expression of RhoC gene in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and to evaluate the relationship between RhoC gene expression and invasion and metastasis of HCC. METHODS: mRNA expression level of RhoC gene was examined by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) in 25 cases of HCC and para-cancerous normal liver tissues. In addition, mutation of RhoC gene was examined by polymerase chain reaction-single strand conformational polymorphism (PCR-SSCP). RESULTS: The mRNA expression levels of RhoC in tumor tissues were significantly higher than those in para-cancerous normal liver tissues (1.8