High CXCL1 level correlates with poor prognosis of HBV-associated hepatocellular carcinoma after liver transplantation / 中华普通外科杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective To explore the relationship between CXCL1 expression level and prognosis of HBV-associated hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) after liver transplantation.Methods From 2000 to 2010,127 recipients of liver transplantation for HBV-associated HCC in our hospital were enrolled.General hematoxylin-eosin staining and CXCL1 immunohistochemical staining were applied in formalin-fixed paraffinembedded sections,and the Cohort's adverse prognostic factors were analyzed retrospectively.Neutrophil migration assay and Transwell invasion assay were used to verify its mechanism.Results CXCL1 expression level is an independent prognostic factor for 5-year overall survival (OS) and disease-free survival (DFS) (P ＜ 0.05);Neutrophil migration assay and Transwell invasion assay suggested that HCC cells can secrete CXCL1 recruiting neutrophils to hepatic carcinoma tissues,and neutrophils secrete vascular endothelial growth factor A (VEGFA) promoting the invasion of HCC cells through vascular endothelial growth factor receptor 2 (VRGFR2).Conclusion High CXCL1 level in HCC tissues is an independent prognostic factor for HCC recurrence and long-term survival of patients with HBV-associated HCC after liver transplantation.CXCL1-neutrophil-VEGFA-VEGFR2 may be a mechanisms leading to HCC recurrence in patients with HBV-associated HCC after liver transplantation.