Objective: mdm2 gene was used as an index to study the molecular mechanism related to the invasiveness of human hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).
Methods: The expression of mdm2 gene in 34 HCC samples and 19 paratumor liver tissues and the relationship between the expression of mdm2 gene and invasiveness of HCC were studied using reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR).
Results: The expression level of mdm2 gene (x +/- Sx) in HCC samples was higher than that in paratumor liver tissues (50.18% +/- 5.24% vs. 27.70% +/- 7.43%, P < 0.05). The expression level of mdm2 gene in HCC samples with invasiveness was higher than that in HCC samples without invasiveness (59.09% +/- 7.28% Vs. 37.87% +/- 6.37%, P < 0.05). However, significant difference in expression of mdm2 gene was not found between small and large HCC as well as between HCC with and without capsule.
Conclusion: The expression of mdm2 gene was related to the invasiveness of HCC.