title: Preoperative plasma transcript AA454543 level is an independent prognostic factor for hepatocellular carcinoma after partial hepatectomy.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  We have previously reported that tissue expression levels of transcript AA454543 in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) are significantly higher than those of normal livers, livers with cirrhosis, and livers with hepatitis. In addition, a higher level of transcript AA454543 in tumor tissues is associated with poor prognosis. We aim to examine whether quantitative measurement of preoperative plasma transcript AA454543 can provide similar prognostic information.
  
  
  METHODS
  Blood samples were obtained from 84 HCC patients before surgery. Real-time quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction, using TaqMan system, was employed to measure plasma transcript AA454543 and alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) RNA levels. We assessed their prediction power in prognosis using univariate and multivariate analyses.
  
  
  RESULTS
  High plasma transcript AA454543 RNA levels were associated with poor overall survival (log-rank test, P < .01). Patients with different plasma AFP RNA levels revealed no difference in overall survival (log-rank test, P = .88). By multivariate Cox regression analysis, plasma transcript AA454543 RNA level (hazard ratio = 4.8, P < .01) and tumor stage (hazard ratio = 1.7, P < .01) were determined to be independent risk factors for the prediction of overall survival.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Preoperative plasma transcript AA454543 RNA level can provide prognostic information for HCC patients receiving curative partial hepatectomy.
authors.affiliation: Center for the Study of Liver Disease, Department of Surgery, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam, Hong Kong, China. stcheung@hkucc.hku.hk
authors.forename: Siu Tim
authors.initials: ST
authors.lastname: Cheung
authors.forename: Chi Leung
authors.initials: CL
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Jeremy P H
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Chow
authors.forename: Yuk Ting
authors.initials: YT
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Ying Chi
authors.initials: YC
authors.lastname: Ip
authors.forename: Jenny C Y
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Ho
authors.forename: Sheung Tat
authors.initials: ST
authors.lastname: Fan
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism; D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000097:blood* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000601:surgery; D005260:Female; D006498:Hepatectomy; D006801:Humans; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000097:blood* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000601:surgery; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins / Q000097:blood* / Q000235:genetics; D011379:Prognosis; D012334:RNA, Neoplasm / Q000378:metabolism; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction
chemical_list: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins; D012334:RNA, Neoplasm