HIGH LEVEL OF GST-P mRNA IN ISLAND TYPE OF RAT ASCITES HEPATOMA CELL LINES

Several cell lines (18) of poorly differentiated rat ascites hepatomas which grown intraperitoneally were analyzed with respect to their mRNA levels of GST-P and albumin. The expression of albumin was dramatically decreased and became undetectable in all of the examined hepatomas compared with normal rat liver. The GST-P mRNA level in the hepatomas was correlated with their ability for formation of cellular islands in ascites. The island types, expressed GST-P at high level and the free type ones showed very low level of GST-P mRNA.