Expression of fragile histidine triad gene in gallbladder carcinoma

Objective: To investigate the expression of fragile histidine triad(FHIT) gene in gallbladder carcinoma and to explore its possible relationship with clinicopathological parameters and prognosis of gallbladder carcinoma.Methods: The expression of FHIT in 51 cases of primary gallbladder carcinoma,15 cases of gallbladder adenoma and 12 cases of chronic cholecystitis was determined by streptavidin-peroxidase immunohistochemical method.Results: The positive expression rates of FHIT in gallbladder carcinoma,gallbladder adenoma and chronic cholecystitis were 47.1,66.7 and 91.7,respectively,and their difference had statistical significance(P<0.005).In gallbladder carcinoma,the expression of FHIT had no correlation with the age,gender,histologic type,Nevin staging and gallbladder stone(P>0.05),but loss of FHIT expression correlated significantly with higher histological grading and lymph node or distant metastasis as well as lesser survival time after operation(P<0.05).Conclusions: FHIT gene may be a candidate tumor suppressor gene of gallbladder carcinoma.Loss of FHIT expression plays an important role in the pathogenesis and evolution of gallbladder carcinoma and may be used as a new indicator for clinical assessment of tumor biological behavior and prognosis in patients with gallbladder carcinoma.