Prognostic significance of DNA topoisomerase IIalpha expression in human hepatocellular carcinoma. .
BACKGROUND
The biological significance of the nuclear enzyme DNA topoisomerase II in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) remains unclear.


METHODS
Using immunohistochemical staining methods, we examined the clinical significance of topo IIalpha (8D2) in surgically resected HCC, comparing the expression of both Ki-67 and p53, as well as various clinicopathological factors and prognosis.


RESULTS
The 70 HCC samples showed a positive, but heterogeneous pattern. The mean topo IIalpha labeling index (LI) was 14.1 +/- 15.1%, and ranged from 0.2 to 55.6, and the median topo IIalpha LI was 9.9%. The mean value of the topo IIalpha LI in p53-positive HCC cases (25.6 +/- 17.4) was significantly higher than that in p53-negative cases (10.3 +/- 12.3). HCC patients with lower topo IIalpha LI had significantly longer disease-free survival and exhibited a longer cumulative survival period than did those with higher topo lIalpha LI.


CONCLUSIONS
Topo IIalpha over-expression appears to be linked with a potentially aggressive tumor phenotype and may indicate tumor recurrence and cancer-related death in HCC.
Watanuki
Akira
A
The Second Department of Surgery, Gunma University Faculty of Medicine, Maebashi, Japan.
Ohwada
Susumu
S
Fukusato
Toshio
T
Makita
Fujio
F
Yamada
Tatsuya
T
Kikuchi
Akihiro
A
Morishita
Yasuo
Y
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000951:Antigens, Neoplasm; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000473:pathology; D004250:DNA Topoisomerases, Type II / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; D018572:Disease-Free Survival; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D019394:Ki-67 Antigen / Q000096:biosynthesis; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D011379:Prognosis; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D015996:Survival Rate; D016159:Tumor Suppressor Protein p53 / Q000096:biosynthesis
D000951:Antigens, Neoplasm; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; D019394:Ki-67 Antigen; D016159:Tumor Suppressor Protein p53; D004250:DNA Topoisomerases, Type II