title: Expression of the HCRP1 mRNA in HCC as an independent predictor of disease-free survival after surgical resection.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC)-related protein-1 (HCRP1) gene was located at chromosome 8p22, a frequently deleted region in HCC. The gene product was a subunit of mammalian Endosomal Sorting Complex Required for Transport (ESCRT)-I, essential for degradation of epidermal growth factor receptors. In this study, we examined the prognostic role of HCRP1 mRNA expression in HCC.
  
  
  METHODS
  The expression of HCRP1 mRNA in HCC was assessed in 125 patients receiving surgical resection of HCC. Using the adjacent non-cancerous tissues as a reference, 55 and 70 patients expressing high and low levels of HCRP1 mRNA, respectively, were identified. The predictive value of HCRP1 mRNA expression in postoperative survival was evaluated.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Expression of HCRP1 mRNA was not associated with any of the baseline clinicopathological parameters. However, univariate analysis showed that it was associated with a better disease-free survival (P < 0.001) and overall survival (P = 0.032). Stepwise Cox multivariate proportional hazards regression analysis showed that the expression of HCRP1 mRNA (hazard ratio [HR], 0.396; 95% confidence interval (CI), 0.233-0.674; P = 0.001), tumor number (HR, 1.596; 95% CI, 1.221-2.087; P = 0.001), serum aspartate aminotransferase (HR, 1.002; 95% CI, 1.000-1.003; P = 0.031) and the presence of microvascular invasion (HR, 1.852; 95% CI, 1.131-3.032; P = 0.014) were included as independent predictors for disease-free survival.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Expression of HCRP1 mRNA served as an independent predictor for postoperative disease-free survival in HCC patients.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatric Gastroenterology, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Ming-Wei
authors.initials: MW
authors.lastname: Lai
authors.forename: Shiu-Feng
authors.initials: SF
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.forename: Shi-Ming
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.forename: Tse-Ching
authors.initials: TC
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Chun-Yen
authors.initials: CY
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.forename: Chun-Nan
authors.initials: CN
authors.lastname: Yeh
authors.forename: Ta-Sen
authors.initials: TS
authors.lastname: Yeh
authors.forename: Miin-Fu
authors.initials: MF
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Chau-Ting
authors.initials: CT
authors.lastname: Yeh