Expression of HSP70 and JNK-related proteins in human liver cancer: Potential effects on clinical outcome.
BACKGROUND
Activation of stress-activated protein kinase/c-Jun N-terminal kinase was inhibited in cells, in which heat shock protein70 was induced to a high level, indicating that heat shock protein70 might be anti-apoptosis protein.


OBJECTIVE
We examined the expression of heat shock protein70 and c-Jun N-terminal kinase signal transduction pathway in human liver carcinoma to explore their relationship and clinical parameters.


METHODS
The expression of heat shock protein70, c-Jun N-terminal kinase1, c-Jun N-terminal kinase2 and c-Jun were detected immunohistochemically in 62 samples of liver cancer. Western blot was used to confirm immunostaining results.


RESULTS
Heat shock protein70 expression showed a positive correlation with the malignant differentiation in liver carcinoma (r=0.449, P<0.0005). The expression of c-Jun N-terminal kinase1, c-Jun N-terminal kinase2, and c-Jun showed a negative correlation with the malignant differentiation in liver carcinoma (r=-0.351, P=0.005; r=-0.303, P=0.017; r=-0.302, P=0.017). Heat shock protein70 expression was correlated with c-Jun N-terminal kinase1 (r=-0.385, P=0.002), c-Jun N-terminal kinase2 (r=-0.309, P=0.015) and c-Jun (r=-0.302, P=0.017). Expression of heat shock protein70, as well as c-Jun N-terminal kinase1, was correlated with recurrence-free survival after the resection. Heat shock protein70 was associated with prognosis (P=0.004).


CONCLUSIONS
Expression of heat shock protein70 and c-Jun N-terminal kinase-related proteins might be an indicator of malignant potential in liver carcinoma. The balance between heat shock protein70 and c-Jun N-terminal kinase-related protein may increase the stability of liver cancer cells in stress. Negative expression of heat shock protein70 might be a protective factor of recurrence of liver carcinoma.
Li
H
H
Department of Second Minimal-Invasive and Biliary Tract Surgery, Second Affiliated Hospital, China Medical University, Shenyang 110001, Liaoning Province, China.
Sui
C
C
Kong
F
F
Zhang
H
H
Liu
J
J
Dong
M
M
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D015153:Blotting, Western; D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000601:surgery; D005260:Female; D018840:HSP70 Heat-Shock Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D048031:JNK Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000601:surgery; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D048055:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 8 / Q000096:biosynthesis; D048056:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 9 / Q000096:biosynthesis; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis; D015398:Signal Transduction; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D018840:HSP70 Heat-Shock Proteins; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins; D048056:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 9; D048031:JNK Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases; D048055:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 8