RESUMEN
Objective: To explore the expressions of S100A4 protein in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), cirrhotic liver, adjacent non-cancerous liver and normal liver tissues and their clinical implications. Methods: Tissue microarray combined with immunohistochemistry (IHC) was used to evaluate the differential expressions of S100A4 protein in HCC-related tissues, and their clinical implications were statistically analyzed. Results: Immunohistochemical staining showed that the positive staining of S100A4 protein was higher in the specimens of primary HCC (70.2%), liver cirrhosis (54.4%), and adjacent non-cancerous liver tissues (41.7%) compared with that in normal liver tissues (0.0%). Biological statistic analysis revealed that S100A4 protein expression influenced the survival time of HCC patients. The patients with weak expression of S100A4 had longer survival time than those with over-expression of S100A4 protein (P = 0.040). Conclusion: The order of the expression levels of S100A4 protein in HCC-related tissues is: HCC>adjacent non-cancerous liver > cirrhotic liver > normal liver. In HCC patients without hepatic microvascular invasion, positive expression of S100A4 protein significantly decreases their postoperative survival rate.
RESUMEN
0bjective: To explore the expression, subcellular localization and clinical implications of TC 21/R-Ras 2 gene in hepatocellular carcinoma. Methods: TC21 mRNA transcription was detected by semi-quantitative Reverse Transcription Polymerase Chain Reaction (RT-PCR) in HCC and adjacent liver tissues. Immunohistochemistry (lHC) and Western blot were used to measure the differential expression of TC21 protein in HCC related tissues, and subcellular localization of TC21 was determined with tissue microarray combined with IHC staining. Results: RT-PCR showed that higher TC21 mRNA expression was occurred in 7 HCC cell lines such as SMMC-7721, BEL-7402, Huh-7, Hep3 B, HepG2. MHCC-97L, MHCC-LM3, and immortal human liver cell lines L-02 and Chang's liver, also 7 HCC tissues and matched noncancerous livers. Western blot indicated an accordant trend of TC21 mRNA and protein expression in 7 HCC cell lines above. TC21 overexpression was detected in 4 HCC and their adjacent liver tissues by Western blot. Furthermore, immunohistochemical staining showed that TC21 positive staining trends: primary HCC > matched noncancerous liver > cirrhotic liver > normal liver, in which the positive staining rates were 84. 2%, 77. 2%, 41. 7% 0% , respectively. Compared to cirrhotic liver and normal liver tissues, TC21 was significantly over-expressed (P 0.05). Biological statistic analysis revealed that TC21 over-expression in HCC positively correlated to the tumor sizes (P < 0.05) but negatively correlated to cirrhosis or not (P < 0.05). Beside above-mentioned findings, it was found that TC21 protein mainly localized to the nuclei of HCC cells, parts to cytoplasms, but not to plasma membranes. Nuclear staining of TC21 was higher in HCC tissues than that in their adjacent livers (P < 0.001). Conclusion: Present study firstly shows that up-regulation and nuclear localization of TC21 protein may play important roles in hepatocellular malignant transformation and hepatocarcinogenesis, although its mechanism is to be elucidated.