ABSTRACT
Objective To investigate the expression of liver cancer stem cells(LCSCs) biomarkers and tumour angiogenesis in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and its clinical significance.Methods Immunohistochemistry was used to detect the expression of CD90,CD133 and CD34 in tumor tissues from 61 patients with HCC undergoing curative hepatectomy.Results The positive rates of CD90and CD133 in HCC tissues were 29.5％ (18/61)and 31.1％ (19/61),the positive rates of CD90 and/or CD133 in HCC were 45.9％ (28/61).The positive rate of LCSCs biomarkers in patients with vascular invasion,tumor differentiation Ⅲ/Ⅳ,non-complete encapsulation,and TNM stage Ⅲ/Ⅳ was significantly higher than those with non-vascular invasion,tumor differentiation Ⅰ / Ⅱ,with complete encapsulation,and TNM stage Ⅰ/Ⅱ.There were a significant positive correlation between LCSCs biomarkers expression and MVD(r =0.5,P ＜ 0.05).As compared with negative LCSCs expression and MVD low group,patients with a positive LCSCs biomarkers expression and MVD high in tumours had significantly lower overall survival (OS) and poor relapse-free survival (RFS).Conclusions High expression levels of LCSCs biomarkers are related to markers of angiogenesis microvessel density (MVD).By combining two of those we can classify paitients and anticipate the prognosis after surgery.
ABSTRACT
Objective To assess the effects of gonadectomy on carcinogenesis and development of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) induced by chemical substances in rat model. Methods Fifty male and 50 female Sprague-Dawley rats (age of 5-6 weeks) were equally divided into four groups: male experimental (surgical castration) and control groups and female experimental (surgical castration)and control groups. The HCC model was induced by diethylnitrosamine (DEN) and Nnitrosomorpholine (NMOR) in SD rats. The effects of gonadectomy on occurring and development of HCC were observed. Results The incidence of HCC in female experimental group was higher than that in female control group (11/11 vs 5/14, P=0. 001), while it was lower in male experimental group than that in male control group (3/10 vs 12/12, P=0. 001). It was demonstrated that gonadectomy could increase the growth of HCC (P=0. 013) and tumor metastasis (P=0. 036) in female rats, but not in male rats. The formation of liver cirrhosis and HCC was found at 8 and 16 weeks in male experimental group, at 12 and 20 weeks in male control group, at 16 and 20 weeks in female experimental group and at 12 and 16 weeks in female control group. These findings showed that gonadectomy could improve the development of carcinogenesis in female rats and delay the carcinogenesis in male rats. Conclusion Sex hormones, especially estrogens, may be involved in development and metastasis of rats HCC.