In situ Hybridization: Application to the Study of Gene Expression during Experimental Hepatocarcinogenesis and Human Hepatocellular Carcinoma

Abstract

The possibility of detecting specific mRNA directly within tumor cells offered by the in situ hybridization (ISH) technique has provided a new dimension to the study of experimental and human hepatocarcinogenesis. The combination of ISH and immunocyto-chemical techniques on the same or adjacent tissue sections provides a more complete picture of the various changes in gene expression. ISH may also detect posttranscriptional abnormalities of gene expression at the cellular level, such as expression of mRNA with no protein translation, or translation with decreased efficiency. Undoubtedly, the development of the ISH technique will open a new area for the understanding of the complex molecular events leading to cancer.