Clinicopathological significance of expression of paxillin, syndecan-1 and EMMPRIN in hepatocellular carcinoma.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the relationship of expression of paxillin, syndecan-1 and EMMPRIN proteins with clinicopathological features in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).


METHODS
Fifty-one patients who underwent HCC resection were recruited in the study. Paxillin, syndecan-1 and EMMPRIN proteins in HCC tissues were detected with immunohistochemical staining.


RESULTS
Of 51 cases of HCC, 23 (45%) exhibited paxillin protein positive expression. Of 42 cases of adjacent non-tumor liver tissues, 24 (57%) exhibited positive expression. Positive paxillin protein expression was associated with low differentiation (r = 0.406, P = 0.004), with the presence of portal vein thrombosis (r = 0.325, P = 0.021), with extra-hepatic metastasis (r = 0.346, P = 0.014). Of 51 cases of HCC, 28 (55%) exhibited syndecan-1 protein positive expression. Of 42 cases of adjacent non-tumor liver tissues, 23 (55%) exhibited positive expression. Positive snydecan-1 protein expression was associated with well differentiation (r = 0.491, P = 0.001), with no extra-hepatic metastasis (r = 0.346, P = 0.014). Of 51 cases of HCC, 28 (55%) exhibited EMMPRIN protein positive expression. Of 42 cases of adjacent non-tumor liver tissues, 21 (50%) exhibited positive expression. Expression of EMMPRIN protein was not associated with serum AFP level, HBsAg status, presence of microsatellite nodule, tumor size, presence of cirrhosis and necrosis, differentiation, presence of portal vein thrombosis, extra-hepatic metastasis, disease-free survival and overall survival (P>0.05). Expression of paxillin protein was correlated conversely with the expression of syndecan-1 protein in HCC (r = -0.366, P = 0.010).


CONCLUSIONS
Expression of paxillin and syndecan-1 proteins in HCC may affect its invasive and metastatic ability of the tumor. There may be a converse correlation between the expression of paxillin and syndecan-1 protein in HCC. Expression of EMMPRIN protein may be detected in HCC, but it may play little role in the invasion and metastasis of HCC.
Li
Hai-Gang
HG
Department of Oncology, Second Affiliated Hospital to Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou 510120, Guangdong Province, China.
Xie
De-Rong
DR
Shen
Xi-Ming
XM
Li
Hong-Hao
HH
Zeng
Hong
H
Zeng
Yun-Jie
YJ
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D015703:Antigens, CD / Q000378:metabolism*; D051926:Basigin; D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D003598:Cytoskeletal Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D008875:Middle Aged; D051419:Paxillin; D010750:Phosphoproteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D011509:Proteoglycans / Q000378:metabolism*; D053668:Syndecan-1; D053667:Syndecans
D015703:Antigens, CD; C497886:BSG protein, human; D003598:Cytoskeletal Proteins; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins; C496061:PXN protein, human; D051419:Paxillin; D010750:Phosphoproteins; D011509:Proteoglycans; C508241:SDC1 protein, human; D053668:Syndecan-1; D053667:Syndecans; D051926:Basigin