Tight junction proteins in HCC and metastatic liver tumours

Introduction/Aim. Cell adhesion has an important role in tumour progression. Tight junctions (TJ) have already been implicated in carcinogenesis. The 3 main integral membrane constituents, claudins, occludin and junctional adhesion molecule (JAM) participate in the regulatation of paracellular permeability and solute transport. We have investigated claudin expression in liver malignancies formerly. Now the expression of occludin, JAM-1,-2,-3 and the scaffolding protein zonula occludens (ZO)-1,-2,-3 was analysed. Materials and methods. 15 human hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and 15 liver metastasis of colon cance…