Abstract: Objective To study the expressions of P57kip2 mRNA and genetic instability of P57kip2 in human hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).Methods In situ hybridization(ISH) was used to detect the expression of P57kip2 mRNA in HCC，MSI and LOH were detected by using PCR-Polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis-silver staining method.Results There was no expression of P57kip2 mRNA in normal liver tissue. The expression rate of P57kip2 mRNA both in pericancerous cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma was 26.67﹪(8/30). LOH was not identified in 30 cases on three microsatellite locies；there were 2 microsatellite locies showing MSI，the total rate of MSI was 16.7﹪. There was correlation between the MSI of D11S1760 locies and the expression of P57kip2 mRNA(p<0.05).Conclusion The disorder expression of P57kip2 mRNA indicated that P57kip2 may be involved in hepatocarcinogenesis and prognosis. MSI may be one of the reasons that lead to the disorder expression of P57kip2 mRNA in hepatocarcinogenesis and prognosis.

Key words: HCC, P57kip2, Genetic instability, LOH, MSI