Down-regulation of retinol binding protein 5 is associated with aggressive tumor features in hepatocellular carcinoma.
OBJECTIVE
Acyclic retinoid (ACR) has been shown to be a promising chemopreventive agent for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) after curative resection. The effects of retinoid are mediated by retinol-binding proteins (RBPs) through regulating cell proliferation and differentiation.


METHODS
This study investigated the clinical significance of RBP5 in HCC. RBP5 mRNA level was examined by real-time quantitative PCR on 52 matched tumor and adjacent non-tumor liver tissues, and on ten normal livers. Expression of RBP5 protein was examined using Western blotting analysis and immunohistochemistry.


RESULTS
Down-regulation of RBP5 was found in HCC tissues at both mRNA and protein levels. Decreased RBP5 level was closely related to poor differentiation (P=0.02) and large tumor size (P=0.01). Low level of RPB5 was associated with poor overall survival (P=0.02), and was an independent prognostic factor for HCC.


CONCLUSIONS
Our study revealed that RBP5 down-regulation in HCC was associated with aggressive tumor features, suggesting an important role of RPB5 in HCC progression.
Ho
Jenny C Y
JC
Department of Surgery, The University of Hong Kong, L9-55, Laboratory Block, Faculty of Medicine Building, 21 Sassoon Road Pokfulam, Hong Kong, China.
Cheung
Siu Tim
ST
Poon
Wing Sem
WS
Lee
Yuk Ting
YT
Ng
Irene O L
IO
Fan
Sheung Tat
ST
D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000401:mortality; D018450:Disease Progression; D015536:Down-Regulation; D005260:Female; D015972:Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008099:Liver; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000401:mortality; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism; D012177:Retinol-Binding Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D054840:Retinol-Binding Proteins, Cellular / Q000378:metabolism*; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D016019:Survival Analysis
C526967:RBP5 protein, human; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D012177:Retinol-Binding Proteins; D054840:Retinol-Binding Proteins, Cellular