title: Expression of cytokeratin 19 and matrix metalloproteinase 2 predicts lymph node metastasis in hepatocellular carcinoma.
abstract: The purpose of this study was to assess the value of cytokeratin 19 (CK19) and matrix metalloproteinase 2 (MMP-2) in predicting lymph node metastasis (LNM) and survival after curative resection in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) patients. Expression of CK19 and MMP-2 in tumor tissue was assessed through immunohistochemical staining of tissue microarrays (TMAs), which were constructed using samples from HCC patients with (n = 123) and without (n = 145) LNM. Positive CK19 expression was correlated with LNM (P < 0.001), satellite lesions (P = 0.016), and lymph node location (P = 0.039). High MMP-2 expression correlated with LNM (P < 0.001), UICC T stage (P = 0.023), and Edmondson grade (P = 0.022). Moreover, CK19 expression correlated with MMP-2 expression (P = 0.033). CK19 and MMP-2 expression were predictive of HCC LNM (AUC: 0.640; 95% CI: 0.572-0.707; P < 0.001 and AUC: 0.611; 95% CI: 0.544-0.679; P = 0.002, respectively). CK19 and MMP-2 expression were independent prognostic factors for disease-free survival (P = 0.031 and P = 0.012, respectively) and overall survival (P = 0.013 and P = 0.018, respectively) in HCC patients with LNM. CK19 expression (P < 0.001), MMP-2 expression (P = 0.006), and UICC T stage (P < 0.001) were independent risk factors for developing LNM in HCC. These findings show that CK19 and MMP-2 expression may be beneficial in predicting HCC LNM and survival.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiation Oncology, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, 136 Yi Xue Yuan Road, Shanghai 200032, China.
authors.forename: Zuo-Lin
authors.initials: ZL
authors.lastname: Xiang
authors.forename: Zhao-Chong
authors.initials: ZC
authors.lastname: Zeng
authors.forename: Zhao-You
authors.initials: ZY
authors.lastname: Tang
authors.forename: Jia
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Fan
authors.forename: Hui-Chuan
authors.initials: HC
authors.lastname: Sun
authors.forename: Yun-Shan
authors.initials: YS
authors.lastname: Tan
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D002648:Child; D018572:Disease-Free Survival; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D053539:Keratin-19 / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D008198:Lymph Nodes / Q000473:pathology*; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis / Q000473:pathology*; D008297:Male; D020778:Matrix Metalloproteinase 2 / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D053539:Keratin-19; D020778:Matrix Metalloproteinase 2