ABSTRACT
Objective The aim of this study was to explore the expression of constitutive photomorphogenesis factor 9 signa-ling complex subunit 6(CSN6) in hepatocellular carcinoma( HCC),and its clinicopathological factors and prognosis. Methods The expression of CSN6 at levels of protein and mRNA in hepatocellular carcinoma and normal hepatic tissues was analyzed using public human protein Atlas database and StarBase database. The TCGA database was used to analyze the differential expression of CSN6 in patients with different tumor stages and graded of hepatocellular carcinoma. Immunohistochemistry was used to detect the expression of CSN6 protein in 106 patients with HCC and analyzed its relationship with multiple clinicopathological factors and overall survival. Results The expression of CSN6 was elevated in hepatocellular carcinoma tissues when compared to normal hepatic tissues. CSN6 was more highly expressed in patients with high pathological grades(G3 and G4)and high stages (Ⅱ and Ⅲ);patients with hepato-cellular carcinoma with high expression of CSN6 had a shorter overall survival. The expression of CSN6 in hepatocellular carcinoma was associated with tumor differentiation and hepatitis B virus infection, and was an independent predictor of overall survival. Conclusion The expression of CSN6 is significantly increased in hepatocellular carcinoma. The increased expression of CSN6 in HCC tissues suggests a poor prognosis. The increased expression is associated with the malignant progression of hepatocellular carcino-ma and has a potential new prognostic marker and therapeutic target.