Correlation between copy number of mitochondrial DNA and clinico-pathologic parameters of hepatocellular carcinoma

Aims: In the current study, we investigated possible correlations of the mtDNA copy number in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) with the pathological findings and prognosis. Methods: We studied 31 HCC specimens using quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction analysis, and the correlation between the mtDNA copy number and the clinicopathologic parameters and mutations in the D-loop region of the mitochondrial genome. Results: The mtDNA copy number was reduced in HCCs compared with the corresponding non-cancerous liver tissues (p=0.002), and significantly correlated with tumour size (p=0.014) and cirrhosis (p=0.048). Patients with a low mtDNA copy number tended to show shorter 5-year Survival rates than patients with a high mtDNA copy number when assessed by Kaplan-Meier curves, but not a significant (overall survival rate, 63 vs 83%; p=0.19). The copy number of HCC with mtDNA D-loop mutation or deletion was lower, but not significantly so (p=0.656, p = 0.590, respectively). Conclusions: Our results indicated that it reduced copy number of mtDNA is correlated with HCC and associated with malignant potential. (c) 2006 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.