Imbalance in expression levels of insulin-like growth factor 2 and H19 transcripts linked to progression of hepatocellular carcinoma.

BACKGROUND The imprinted genes insulin-like growth factor 2 (IGF2) and H19 play important roles in various malignancies including hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). MATERIALS AND METHODS We used DNA microarray and patient follow-up data to examine the relationship between expression of IGF2 and H19 and HCC. RESULTS We found that imbalances in levels of IGF2 and H19 transcripts were correlated with advanced tumor stage and poor outcome in HCC patients. CONCLUSION In addition to their known epigenetic or genetic abnormality in malignancies, these findings suggest that altered transcription of these two imprinted genes contributes to progression of HCC.