title: Identification of MACC1 as a novel prognostic marker in hepatocellular carcinoma.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Metastasis-associated in colon cancer-1 (MACC1) is a newly identified gene that plays a role in colon cancer metastasis through upregulation of c-MET proto-oncogene (c-MET). However, the value of MACC1 as a potential biomarker for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) remains unknown.
  
  
  METHODS
  MACC1 mRNA expression in 128 HCC tissues was examined by quantitative polymerase chain reaction. To show the potential correlation of MACC1 and c-MET, c-MET was also analysed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  MACC1 was more highly expressed in HCC than in non-HCC tissues (P = 0.009). High MACC1 expression was significantly increased in cases with high alpha fetoprotein (AFP) (P = 0.025). A positive correlation was found between MACC1 and c-MET mRNAs (r = 0.235, P = 0.009). Both univariate and multivariate analyses revealed that MACC1 expression was associated with overall survival (OS) and disease-free survival (DFS). Moreover, stratified analysis showed that tumour-node-metastasis (TNM) stage I patients with high MACC1 levels had shorter OS and DFS than those with low MACC1.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  MACC1 may identify low- and high-risk individuals with HCC and be a valuable indicator for stratifying the prognosis of TNM stage I patients. MACC1 may serve as a novel biomarker for HCC.
authors.affiliation: Department of Hepatobiliary Oncology, Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, Guangzhou, China.
authors.forename: Jiliang
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Qiu
authors.forename: Pinzhu
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.forename: Qian
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Jian
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Hong
authors.forename: Binkui
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Canliang
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Lu
authors.forename: Li
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Jianping
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Yunfei
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Yuan
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000378:metabolism*; D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D005260:Female; D015972:Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic; D006801:Humans; D053208:Kaplan-Meier Estimate; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D011379:Prognosis; D000090063:Proto-Oncogene Mas; D019859:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-met / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D015534:Trans-Activators; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; C544162:MACC1 protein, human; C000715470:MAS1 protein, human; D000090063:Proto-Oncogene Mas; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D015534:Trans-Activators; D014157:Transcription Factors; D019859:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-met