[Proteomic analysis on metastasis-associated proteins of hepatocellular carcinoma tissues].
OBJECTIVE
A comparative proteomic approach was used to identify and analyze proteins relevant to metastasis of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).


METHODS
Proteins extracted from 12 liver tumor tissue specimens (6 with metastases and 6 without) were separated by two-dimensional gel electrophoresis (2-DE). Comparative analyses of 2-DE protein patterns between the two groups were done using computerized image analysis. Selected proteins exhibiting statistically significant alternations were identified by mass spectrometry. Immunohistochemistry, Western blotting and RT-PCR were performed to examine the expressions of the candidate proteins.


RESULTS
16 proteins including HSP27, S100A11, CK18 were identified using mass spectrometry, which were related to cell mobility, signal transduction, and energy metabolism respectively. Of these, HSP27 was found to be uniquely over-expressed in 2-DE maps of all metastatic HCCs when compared to the non-metastatic HCC tissues. Immunohistochemistry and Western blotting of HCC tissues confirmed this difference while RT-PCR did not.


CONCLUSIONS
There are different proteins working together that affect the metastasis of HCCs. The overexpression of HSP27 may serve as a biomarker for early detection and therapeutic targets to the metastatic phenotype of HCC. The role of HSP27 in HCC metastasis warrants further investigation.
Song
Hai-yan
HY
Liver Cancer Institute, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, China.
Liu
Yin-kun
YK
Cui
Jie-feng
JF
Zhang
Li-jun
LJ
Dai
Zhi
Z
Feng
Ju-tao
JT
Feng
Jiu-xian
JX
Shen
Hua-li
HL
Yang
Peng-yuan
PY
D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000473:pathology; D015180:Electrophoresis, Gel, Two-Dimensional; D015972:Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic; D055551:HSP27 Heat-Shock Proteins; D006360:Heat-Shock Proteins / Q000032:analysis*; D006801:Humans; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000473:pathology; D013058:Mass Spectrometry; D018832:Molecular Chaperones; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins / Q000032:analysis*; D020543:Proteome / Q000032:analysis; D009418:S100 Proteins / Q000032:analysis
D055551:HSP27 Heat-Shock Proteins; C057725:HSPB1 protein, human; D006360:Heat-Shock Proteins; D018832:Molecular Chaperones; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins; D020543:Proteome; D009418:S100 Proteins; C072337:S100A11 protein, human