The correlation between P53 and COX-2 expression and the pathological alteration in hepatocellular carcinoma

Background Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is among the highest life-threatening malignancies. On both a molecular and histological level, HCC is a highly heterogeneous malignancy. This study was aimed to study the correlation between the molecular expression of some molecular biomarkers ( P53 and Cox-2) and the histopathological alterations in the chemically induced HCC by Diethylnitrosamine (DEN) in Adult female Rats. The liver tumor induction was done by injection of DEN intraperitoneally one, two and three times/week for 2 months by the dose of 50 mg/kg Bw. The histopathological analysis was done and expression level of P53 and cox-2 was detected by quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) at the end of the experiment. Results In this study, Grossly, livers of the groups administered with DEN showed multiple grayish-white macronodules on the outer surface which is dose dependent. Histopathologically, DEN induce multifocal micronodules of hepatocellular carcinoma which characterized by nuclear atypia , clear cell, mitotic figures and necrosis of hepatocytes. P53 mRNA expression to GAPDH , revealed that, there was a statistically significant decrease in HCC groups compared to healthy control group, while Cox-2 mRNA expression was significantly increased in HCC groups than healthy control group. Conclusions HCC staging can be achieved by detection the expression of P53 , and Cox-2 as molecular markers as it considers noninvasive, rapid and easy method than the histopathological analysis. Finally, Cox-2 could be a therapeutic candidate for HCC due to the higher expression of Cox-2 in HCC lesions.