Abstract: Objective To analyze the expression level of absent in melanoma 2(AIM2) in peripheral blood mononuclears(PBMCs) and its significance in primary hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC). Methods The mRNA expression levels of AIM2 in PBMCs in 41 patients with HCC were detected by reverse transcription PCR and real-time fluorescence quantitative PCR, and the relationship between the liver tumor diameters, extrahepatic metastasis and liver function reserve scores were analyzed. Results Patients with the diameter of the intrahepatic tumor less than 5cm had higher AIM2 mRNA expression levels than those with the diameter of the intrahepatic tumor greater than 5cm (P = 0.006). The AIM2 mRNA expression levels were higher in patients without extrahepatic metastasis than in those with extrahepatic metastasis(P = 0.025). Patients with grade A and B liver function reserve had higher AIM2 mRNA expression levels than patients with grade C (P < 0.001). Conclusion The expression level of AIM2 mRNA in PBMCs is negatively associated with the progression of HCC. AIM2 is a potential biomarker for the prognostic evaluation of HCC and a potential target for therapeutic intervention.

Key words: Absent in melanoma 2, Primary hepatocellular carcinoma, Peripheral blood mononuclear cells