title: Increased expression of ZBP-89 and its prognostic significance in hepatocellular carcinoma.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  ZBP-89 plays a role in cell growth and death. Its expression in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is not well documented. This study aimed to analyse ZBP-89 expression in HCC.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We examined ZBP-89 expression in five HCC cell lines and 182 HCC tissue samples by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), Western blot analysis and immunofluorescence staining. Our results showed that the expression of ZBP-89 was higher in HCC than adjacent non-tumour liver, at both mRNA and protein levels. ZBP-89 was localized in the nucleus in most HCC tissue samples, but was found in the cytoplasm in 11.5% of cases. Patient survival in those tumours showing high ZBP-89 expression was better than in those with low expression. High ZBP-89 expression tended to be more common in World Health Organization (WHO) grade I than grades II-IV HCC. There was a significant association between HBV positivity and high ZBP-89 expression. Colony formation was reduced dramatically in those HCC cell lines in which ZBP-89 overexpression was demonstrated; this appeared to correlate with increased apoptosis, inferred by finding elevated levels of cleaved poly(ADP-ribose)polymerases (PARP), the probable mechanisms for which may involve increased p53 or p21 expression.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  ZBP-89 has anti-tumour properties and is a potential biomarker for prognosis of HCC.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Prince of Wales Hospital, Shatin, NT, Hong Kong.
authors.forename: Chris Z Y
authors.initials: CZ
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Yun
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Cao
authors.forename: Jing-Ping
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Yun
authors.forename: George G
authors.initials: GG
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Paul B S
authors.initials: PB
authors.lastname: Lai
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D017209:Apoptosis; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism*; D015153:Blotting, Western; D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D017931:DNA Primers / Q000235:genetics; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D053208:Kaplan-Meier Estimate; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011065:Poly(ADP-ribose) Polymerases / Q000378:metabolism; D011379:Prognosis; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D012334:RNA, Neoplasm / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism*; D014410:Tumor Stem Cell Assay; D015854:Up-Regulation
chemical_list: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D017931:DNA Primers; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D012334:RNA, Neoplasm; D014157:Transcription Factors; C110951:ZNF148 protein, human; D011065:Poly(ADP-ribose) Polymerases