title: Clinicopathologic and gene expression parameters predict liver cancer prognosis.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The prognosis of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) varies following surgical resection and the large variation remains largely unexplained. Studies have revealed the ability of clinicopathologic parameters and gene expression to predict HCC prognosis. However, there has been little systematic effort to compare the performance of these two types of predictors or combine them in a comprehensive model.
  
  
  METHODS
  Tumor and adjacent non-tumor liver tissues were collected from 272 ethnic Chinese HCC patients who received curative surgery. We combined clinicopathologic parameters and gene expression data (from both tissue types) in predicting HCC prognosis. Cross-validation and independent studies were employed to assess prediction.
  
  
  RESULTS
  HCC prognosis was significantly associated with six clinicopathologic parameters, which can partition the patients into good- and poor-prognosis groups. Within each group, gene expression data further divide patients into distinct prognostic subgroups. Our predictive genes significantly overlap with previously published gene sets predictive of prognosis. Moreover, the predictive genes were enriched for genes that underwent normal-to-tumor gene network transformation. Previously documented liver eSNPs underlying the HCC predictive gene signatures were enriched for SNPs that associated with HCC prognosis, providing support that these genes are involved in key processes of tumorigenesis.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  When applied individually, clinicopathologic parameters and gene expression offered similar predictive power for HCC prognosis. In contrast, a combination of the two types of data dramatically improved the power to predict HCC prognosis. Our results also provided a framework for understanding the impact of gene expression on the processes of tumorigenesis and clinical outcome.
authors: Merck Research Laboratories, Boston, MA, USA. ke_hao@163.com
authors: Ke
authors: K
authors: Hao
authors: John
authors: J
authors: Lamb
authors: Chunsheng
authors: C
authors: Zhang
authors: Tao
authors: T
authors: Xie
authors: Kai
authors: K
authors: Wang
authors: Bin
authors: B
authors: Zhang
authors: Eugene
authors: E
authors: Chudin
authors: Nikki P
authors: NP
authors: Lee
authors: Mao
authors: M
authors: Mao
authors: Hua
authors: H
authors: Zhong
authors: Danielle
authors: D
authors: Greenawalt
authors: Mark D
authors: MD
authors: Ferguson
authors: Irene O
authors: IO
authors: Ng
authors: Pak C
authors: PC
authors: Sham
authors: Ronnie T
authors: RT
authors: Poon
authors: Cliona
authors: C
authors: Molony
authors: Eric E
authors: EE
authors: Schadt
authors: Hongyue
authors: H
authors: Dai
authors: John M
authors: JM
authors: Luk
mesh_terms: D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D002471:Cell Transformation, Neoplastic / Q000235:genetics; D018572:Disease-Free Survival; D005260:Female; D015870:Gene Expression; D020869:Gene Expression Profiling; D006801:Humans; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011379:Prognosis