HEMONC: Human G-protein gamma 7 in extrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma and its clinicopathological significance Human G-protein gamma 7 in extrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma and its clinicopathological significance ================================================================================

Mei Wang, Biao Gong, Yongmei Li, Yajie Wang

on 14/06/2010 07:36:00 Cholangiocarcinoma is rising in clinical importance because of its increasing incidence, suboptimal response to therapy, and poor prognosis. Recent investigations into the underlying molecular mechanisms involved in cholangiocarcinogenesis and tumor growth have contributed greatly to our understanding of this disease.1,2 Conversion from normal to malignant bile epithelium probably requires a stepwise accumulation of successive genetic abnormalities involving a variety of molecular defects of both oncogenes and tumor suppressor genes. However, the molecular pathogenesis of cholangiocarcinoma is still largely unknown. The guanine nucleotide-binding proteins (G proteins) play a key role in cell signaling. Its b and g subunit control the signals involved in cell growth. The G-g7 gene is widely distributed in the signal transduction pathways, and G-g7 -coupled G proteins may contribute to carcinogenesis in many cancers.3-5 Several studies have found a down-regulated G-g7 gene in gastrointestinal tract cancers, including esophageal, gastric, pancreatic, and colorectal cancers. To our knowledge, the expression of G-g7 hasn’t been confirmed in extra-hepatic cholangiocarcinoma. In this study, we evaluated the expression of G-g7 in 21 extra-hepatic cholangiocarcinoma (EHCC) patients. The expression of G-g7 was also compared among cancer tissues, peri-cancerous normal bile duct tissue, and normal bile duct tissues. The association of G-g7 and the histological grade of EHCC were also investigated.