Objective:To search for gene related to hepatocellular carcinoma ( HCC)

and study its

potential significance in liver oncogenesis. Methods:The difference in mRNA expression among HCC

nontumorous liver tissue

fetal liver tissue and normal liver tissue was investigated by differential display technique. Ten hepatic tissues of HCC versus surrounding noncancerous liver tissues were examined with MRG98.2 as a probe in Dot blot analysis. Expression of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF)mRNA in above mentioned samples was examined with reverse transcription- polymerase chain reaction(RT~ PCR). Results:Fifty five differentially expressed cDNA fragments were isolated from HCC samples

24 of them were present in HCC and fetal liver tissues simultaneously. Dot blot analysis showed that differential display fragment MRG98.2 expressed in 7 cases of HCC samples (7/10)but only slightly in 2 of the surrounding noncancerous hepatic tissues (2/10). The expression of VEGFmRNA was upregulation in 6/7 of HCC samples expressed MRG98. 2. Gmclusian :The activation of some genes expressed in fetal period may have an important role in the genesis of HCC. MRG98.2 may be a gene related to HCC. Its expression in HCC correlates with VEGFmRNA. MRG98.2 expression is helpful in predicting a tendency toward invasion and metastasis of HCC.