ABSTRACT
AIM: To illuminate the effect of SWI/SNF-related, matrix-associated, actin-dependent regulator of chromatin, subfamily b, member 1 (SMARCB1) in early diagnosis and prognosis of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) by determining the clinical expression of SMARCB1 in HCC tissue and benign liver tissue.METHODS: The specific target gene SMARCB1 was selected from these genes by using The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA).SMARCB1 expression in HCC tissue and benign liver tissue was measured by immunohistochemistry.Further statistical analysis of TCGA was performed to illuminate the role of SMARCB1 on HCC occurrence and progression.RESULTS: Compared with the benign liver tissue, immunohistochemical staining showed that SMARCB1 expression was significantly up-regulated in the HCC tissue (P<0.01).In addition, SMARCB1 expression was significantly associated with advanced tumor stage (P<0.05).The relation between SMARCB1 expression at mRNA level and clinical prognosis was analyzed.The results indicated that high SMARCB1 expression was an independent prognostic factor for HCC (P<0.05).CONCLUSION: SMARCB1 may play a part as a carcinogenic gene in tumorigenesis.We can distinguish primary HCC samples from non-malignant samples according to its different clinical expression.High SMARCB1 expression probably predicts poor outcome in HCC patients.