Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC)

BACKGROUND & AIMS: Expression of microRNAs (miRNAs) in metastatic foci of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is unknown. We identified metastasis-related miRNAs in recurrent cases after living donor liver transplantation (LDLT). Methods: We performed a comprehensive analysis of primary HCC (T), noncancerous liver (N), and resected recurrent (metastatic) HCC (M) using microarray analyses to identify metastasis-related miRNAs in in three patients with post-transplant recurrence. The RNA samples from three cases that underwent resection of recurrences after LDLT were made available for miRNA microarray analysis. The three cases included a 57-year-old man (case 1) with peritoneal recurrence and infected by hepatitis B virus (HBV), and a 48-year-old woman (case 2) and a 51-year-old man (case 3) with lung recurrences and hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection. Microarray analysis was performed for each RNA sample from the (T), (N) in the explanted liver, and (M). A sample containing equal amounts of RNAs from histologically normal livers of three living donors (NL: normal liver) was analyzed as a control. The RNA samples from three cases that underwent resection of recurrences after living donor liver transplantation were made available for microRNA microarray analysis. Microarray analysis was performed for each RNA sample from the primary HCC (T), noncancerous liver (N) in the explanted liver, and resected recurrent metastatic HCC (M). A sample containing equal amounts of RNAs from histologically normal livers of three living donors (NL: normal liver) was analyzed as a control.