AIM: To investigate the expression of metallothioneins (MTs), which were recently thought to have close relationship with tumors, in human hepatocellular carcinoma. METHODS: Histological specimens of 35 cases of primary human hepatocellular carcinoma with para-neoplastic liver tissue and 5 cases of normal liver were stained for MTs with monoclonal mouse anti-MTs serum (E9) by the immunohistochemical ABC technique. RESULTS: MTs were stained in the 35 cases of HCC, including 6 cases negative (17.1%), 23 weakly positive (65.7%), and 6 strongly positive(17.1%). But MTs were stained strongly positive in all the five cases of normal liver and 35 cases of para-neoplastic liver tissue. The differences of MTs expression between HCC and normal liver tissue or para-neoplastic liver tissue were highly significant (P<0.01). The rate of MTs expression in HCC grade I was 100 percent, higher than that in grade II(81%) and grade III and IV (78%). But the differences were not significant (P>0.05). No obvious correlations between MTs expression in HCC and tumor size, clinical stage or serum alpha fetoprotein concentration were found (P>0.05). CONCLUSION: Decrease of MTs expression in HCC may play a role in carcinogenesis of HCC. MTs are stained heterogenously in HCC. We can choose the anticancer agents according to the MTs concentration in HCC, which may improve the results of chemotherapy for HCC.

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。