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This dissertation, "Identification and Characterization of LI-cadherin in Hepatocellular Carcinoma" by Wing-yan, Wong,, was obtained from The University of Hong Kong (Pokfulam, Hong Kong) and is being sold pursuant to Creative Commons: Attribution 3.0 Hong Kong License. The content of this dissertation has not been altered in any way. We have altered the formatting in order to facilitate the ease of printing and reading of the dissertation. All rights not granted by the above license are retained by the author. Abstract: Abstract of thesis entitled Identification and Characterization of LI-cadherin in Hepatocellular Carcinoma submitted by WONG Wing-Yan for the degree of Master of Philosophy at The University of Hong Kong in August 2003 Liver-intestine cadherin (LI-cadherin) is a transmembrane glycoprotein mediating ++ Ca -dependent homophilic cell-cell adhesion. It locates at gene locus 8q22.1 where genomic instability is frequently found in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Unlike classical cadherin, the extracellular domain consists of seven cadherin-type repeats and the cytoplasmic tail is short with only 20 amino acids. Previous studies demonstrated that LI-cadherin was expressed in developmental stage of rat liver and intestine. However, its expression was not found in adult liver and normal gastric mucosa. During intestinal metaplasia transition, LI-cadherin expression is induced. Further evidence showed strong expression of LI-cadherin in well-differentiated ductal adenocarcinoma of the pancreas. Except these two pieces of findings, limited evidences have provided clues for its role in other cancers. Locating at the hot spot of genetically gain in expression in HCC, LI-cadherin gene may be important in hepatocarcinogenesis. To gain an initial insight on the role of LI-cadherin in HCC, the aim of this study is to investigate LI-cadherin gene ii and protein expression in HCC cell lines and tissues and compared with non-tumorous counte