title: Overexpression of kappa-actin alters growth properties of hepatoma cells and predicts poor postoperative prognosis.
abstract: Since Rho-mediated signaling can regulate liver cancer cell proliferation, amino acid sequence changes of its downstream targets, actins, might alter the properties of cell growth. Here, we investigated the function of a novel class of actins, named κ-actins, in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).
  
  
  METHODS
  Alexander cells overexpressing an HCC-derived κ-actin (Alex-κ cells) were established to study growth property changes. κ-actin expression was also determined in tumor and noncancerous tissues from 72 HCC patients. Survival analysis was conducted to evaluate the prognostic predictive value of κ-actin expression.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Phylogenetic analysis showed that κ-actin sequences constituted 94.7% and 17.6% of actin transcripts in Alex-κ and naive Alexander cells, respectively. Alex-κ cells exhibited serum-independent cell growth with increased anchorage-independent colony formation and BrdU incorporation upon serum deprivation. Cox proportional hazard analysis showed that κ-actin expression in both cancerous and noncancerous tissues predicted poorer postoperative disease-free survival (p=0.004).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Overexpression of κ-actin altered growth properties of hepatoma cells, contributing to poor postoperative prognosis.
authors: Department of Pediatric Gastroenterology, Chang Gung Children's Hospital, and Molecular Medicine Research Center, Chang Gung University, Taoyuan, Taiwan, ROC.
authors: Kuei-Wen
authors: KW
authors: Chang
authors: Andrew
authors: A
authors: Chou
authors: Chin-Chang
authors: CC
authors: Lee
authors: Christopher
authors: C
authors: Yeh
authors: Ming-Wei
authors: MW
authors: Lai
authors: Ta-Sen
authors: TS
authors: Yeh
authors: Tse-Ching
authors: TC
authors: Chen
authors: Kung-Hao
authors: KH
authors: Liang
authors: Chau-Ting
authors: CT
authors: Yeh
mesh_terms: D000199:Actins / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics; D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D048708:Cell Growth Processes / Q000502:physiology; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D056945:Hep G2 Cells; D006801:Humans; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D010802:Phylogeny; D011379:Prognosis
chemical_list: D000199:Actins