Circulating human hepatic lipase mRNA in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma and healthy controls

Objective: To evaluate circulating human hepatic lipase mRNA as an indicator of circulating hepatoma cells by reverse transcriptase‐polymerase chain reaction (RT‐PCR) in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Design: Prospective study Setting: University hospital, Germany. Subjects: 15 patients with hepatocellular carcinoma and 8 healthy volunteers. Interventions: Peripheral venous blood was obtained and total RNA was extracted from the lymphocytic layer by caesium chloride gradient centrifugation. The mRNA was reverse transcripted, and hepatic lipase cDNA was amplified by hepatic lipase specific primers with PCR. The integrity of isolated RNA was confirmed by RT‐PCR with β‐actin specific primers. Amplificates were visualised by agarose gel electrophoresis and ethidium bromide staining. Main outcome measures: Detection of hepatic‐lipase‐specific RT‐PCR products in peripheral blood. Results: Circulating hepatic lipase‐specific PCR products were detected in all patients with HCC and in all healthy controls. Conclusion: Detection of circulating human hepatic lipase‐mRNA by RT‐PCR does not indicate metastasising HCC. Copyright © 1999 Taylor and Francis Ltd.