Wei-Wen Liu

KAI1 gene suppresses invasion and metastasis of hepatocellular carcinoma MHCC97‐H cells in vitro and in animal models

Background: Downregulation of KAI1 gene expression has been found in many types of cancer cells and is closely related to cancer invasion and metastasis. This study was aimed at investigating the effects and possible underlying mechanisms of KAI1 gene on invasion and metastasis of human hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).

Alterations of telomerase activity and terminal restriction fragment in gastric cancer and its premalignant lesions

Aims: In order to explore the role of alterations of telomerase activity and terminal restriction fragment (TRF) length in the development and progression of gastric cancer.

Effects of insulin-like growth factors-IR and -IIR antisense gene transfection on the biological behaviors of SMMC-7721 human hepatoma cells

Background and Aims: Insulin‐like growth factors (IGFs) are closely related to hepatocellular carcinoma growth. The study aim was to investigate the effects of IGF‐IR and IGF‐IIR antisense gene transfection on the biological behaviors of SMMC‐7721 human hepatoma cells.

Effect of antisense human telomerase RNA on malignant phenotypes of gastric carcinoma

Aim : The study was designed to explore the effects of antisense human telomerase RNA (ahTR) on the malignant phenotype of gastric carcinoma cell line SGC‐7901, and its potential role in gene therapy for tumors.

Studies on the relationship between the point mutation of ras oncogenes and the prognosis of patients with gastric cancer

AIMnTo study the relationship between the point mutation of ras oncogenes and the prognosis of patients with gastric cancer.nnnMETHODSnThe point mutations at codon 12 and 61 of c-Ha-ras, at codon 12 and 13 of K-ras, and at codon 12 of N-ras were studied with PCR-RFLP in 88 formalin fixed and paraffin embedded specimens of gastric cancer.nnnRESULTSnIt was found that the overall rate of point mutation of ras oncogenes was 18.2% and the positivity of the point mutation of ras oncogenes was related to the cancerous invasion of the serosa, the status of lymph node metastasis, the stage of cancer and the survival time after surgery.nnnCONCLUSIONnThe findings suggest that the determination of point mutations of ras oncogenes can be used to determine the prognosis of patients with gastric cancer.

Loss of heterozygosity and mRNA expression at deleted in colorectal cancer gene locus in gastric cancer

AIMnTo assess the effects of the deleted in colorectal cancer (DCC) gene changes on the development and progression of gastric cancer.nnnMETHODSnThe loss of heterozygosity (LOH) and mRNA expression DCC gastric cancer using a PCR-based detection method.nnnRESULTSnLOH was found in 35.3% (18/51) of the specimens, and the LOH was more frequently detected in tumors from patients with stage III or IV cancer (50.5%) than those in stages I or II (14.3%) (P < 0.05). The occurrence of LOH was not found to correlate with the histological type, tumor size, invasion depth and lymph node metastasis of gastric cancer. The mRNA expression of the DCC gene was studied in 26 of the 51 cases, of which LOE was found in 30.8% (8/26). LOE was not significantly correlated to LOH or other clinicopathological parameters.nnnCONCLUSIONnLOH and LOE of DCC gene are frequently encountered in gastric cancer, and the LOH of DCC gene is a late event associated with progression of gastric cancer.