Infrequent microsatellite instability mutator phenotype in Chinese hepatocellular carcinomas

Objective: In order to elucidate the molecular mechanisms that might be responsible for hepatocarcinogenesis, we examined microsatellite instability (MSI), mismatch repair gene hMLH1 mutation and methylation in hepatocellular carcinoma. Methods: Fifty-two cases of surgically resected sporadic hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) were studied. hMLH1 mutation was examined by two-dimensional electrophoresis and DNA sequencing; hMLH1 methylation was determined by methylation-specific PCR(MSP); and MSI at BAT26 was analyzed by PCR-based methods. Results: MSI at BAT26 was found in 3 of 52 cases (5.8%) of the tumors analyzed. No hMLH1 mutation or hypermethylation was found in these 52 cancerous tissues. No correlation existed between MSI and clinico-pathological characteristics of the patients. Conclusion: Our results suggest that MSI at BAT26 is rarely associated with carcinogenesis of chinese HCC. The genesis of sporadic HCC may occur in an alternative pathway that is probably different from MSI pathway.