Expression of ZEB-1 in hepatocellular carcinoma tissues and its significance / 第二军医大学学报

ABSTRACT

Objective To investigate ZEB-l protein expression in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) tissues and the relevant significance. Methods Immunohistochemical method and Western blotting analysis were used to detect the ZEB-l protein expression in 62 HCC tissues,48 paracancerous cirrhotic tissues and 10 normal liver tissues. The relationship between ZEB-l protein expression and clinicopathological features of HCC was evaluated. Results Immunohistochemical staining showed that the positive rates of ZEB-l protein expression in HCC tissues and paracancerous cirrhotic tissues were 93. 5% (58/ 62) and 83.3 (40/48), respectively. Western blotting analysis showed that ZEB-l protein expression in HCC tissues was significantly higher than those in the paracancerous cirrhotic tissues and normal liver tissues (P0. 05). Conclusion High expression of ZEB-l is correlated with the development and progression of HCC. ZEB-l might also participate in the epithelial-mesenchymal transition of HCC cells, subsequently contributing to the invasion and metastasis.