Overexpression of protein kinase C alpha mRNA in human hepatocellular carcinoma: a potential marker of disease prognosis.
BACKGROUND
Members of the protein kinase C (PKC) isoenzyme family play a central role in the tumorigenesis of several tissues. However, little is known about subtype specific intracellular expression of PKC in human hepatocellular carcinomas.


METHODS
We investigated PKC isoforms mRNA expression in 42 HCC specimens using reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction analysis, and the correlation between PKC isoforms expression and clinicopathologic parameters.


RESULTS
We found that PKCalpha, PKCdelta and PKCiota mRNA were significantly increased in HCCs as compared to the corresponding non-cancerous liver tissues. PKCalpha expression also significantly correlated with tumor size (P<0.05) and TNM stage (P<0.05), but PKCdelta and PKCiota did not. The log-rank analysis revealed that patients with higher PKCalpha mRNA expression in the HCC tissues had significantly shorter survival rate than patients with lower PKCalpha mRNA expression (P<0.01).


CONCLUSIONS
Our results suggested that the PKCalpha may be a prognostic factor for the survival of patients with HCC.
Wu
Trang-Tiau
TT
Department of Surgery, School of Medicine, Medical College, Chung Shan Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan.
Hsieh
Yi-Hsien
YH
Wu
Cheng-Chung
CC
Hsieh
Yih-Shou
YS
Huang
Chih-Yang
CY
Liu
Jer-Yuh
JY
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D015415:Biomarkers; D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000201:enzymology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007527:Isoenzymes / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000201:enzymology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011379:Prognosis; D011493:Protein Kinase C / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D051571:Protein Kinase C-alpha / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D051745:Protein Kinase C-delta / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism*; D000099293:Protein Kinase C-lambda
D015415:Biomarkers; D007527:Isoenzymes; D011493:Protein Kinase C; D051571:Protein Kinase C-alpha; D051745:Protein Kinase C-delta; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D000099293:Protein Kinase C-lambda