Scientists with the Chinese National Human Genome Center have
discovered a close interrelation between liver cancer and the gene
DLK1.
Dr. Huang Jian and Zhang Xin, who headed the research, said they
found a significant occurrence of the DLK1 gene in tissues of the
hepatocellular carcinoma and concluded it was involved in the
formation of liver cancer.
The discovery was made after the scientists analyzed 82 liver
cancer specimens. The imprinting gene showed a remarkable
up-regulation in 73.2 percent of the specimens, Huang said, adding
that DLK1 had not been found in healthy liver cells.
He said the discovery may make DLK1 a new index for liver cancer
diagnosis in future. In addition to existing diagnostic measures,
new DLK1-based technologies were expected to raise the accuracy of
the diagnosis.
The scientists at the Shanghai-based center also found the
reduction of DLK1 activity can apparently check the reproduction of
liver cancer cells.
(Xinhua News Agency November 23, 2006)