Gene associated with liver cancer, and method for determination of the risk of acquiring liver cancer

A method of selecting a candidate liver cancer therapeutic agent, comprising:

• selecting an agent;
• culturing a mammalian cell in the presence of the agent;
• culturing the mammalian cell in the absence of the agent;
• detecting a methylation of a gene or gene region selected from the group consisting of SALL3c gene (SEQ ID NO:1), ECEL1 gene (SEQ ID NO:2), FOXC1 gene (SEQ ID NO:3), NRG3 gene (SEQ ID NO:4), KCNIP2 gene (SEQ ID NO:5), gene region SEQ ID NO:6, and gene region SEQ ID NO:7;
• and,
• determining whether the agent at least suppresses the methylation of the gene or gene region;
• wherein, the agent is a candidate liver cancer therapeutic agent, where the agent at least suppresses the methylation.

A method of detecting the presence or absence of microscopic vascular invasion in liver cancer of a subject, comprising:

• extracting a tissue from the subject comprising sera or blood cells;
• extracting a DNA sample from the tissue;
• and,
• detecting a methylation of a gene or gene region in the DNA, wherein the gene or gene region is selected from the group consisting of SALL3c gene (SEQ ID NO:1), ECEL1 gene (SEQ ID NO:2), and gene region SEQ ID NO:6.

A microarray for detecting a methylation of a gene or gene region, the microarray comprising:

• a solid-phase surface;
• a first marker for a SALL3c gene (SEQ ID NO:1);
• a second marker for a ECEL1 gene (SEQ ID NO:2);
• and,
• a third marker for a gene region SEQ ID NO:6;
• wherein, the first, second, and third markers are immobilized on the solid phase surface for the detection of the methylation of the genes or gene region.