title: Clinical significance of axin and β-catenin protein expression in primary hepatocellular carcinomas.
abstract: The aim of the present research was to investigate clinicopathologic correlations of immunohistochemically- demonstrated axin (axis inhibition) and β-catenin expression in primary hepatocellular carcinomas (HCCs), in comparison with paraneoplastic, cirrhotic and normal liver tissues. Variation in Axin expression across groups were significant (P < 0.01), correlating with alpha fetoprotein (AFP), HBsAg, cancer plugs in the portal vein, and clinical stage of HCCs(P < 0.05); however, there were no links with sex, age, and tumour size (P > 0.05). Differences in cell membrane β-catenin expression were also statistically significant (P < 0.01), again correlated with AFP, HBsAg, cancer plugs in the portal vein, and clinical stage in HCCs (P < 0.05) but not with sex, age, and tumour size (P > 0.05). Axin expression levels in tissues with reduced membrane β-catenin were low (P < 0.05), also being low with nuclear β-catenin expression (P < 0.05). Axin and β-catenin may play an important role in the genesis and progression of HCC via the Wnt signal transmission pathway. Simultaneous determination of axin, β-catenin, AFP, and HBsAg may be useful for early diagnosis, and metastatic and clinical staging of HCCs.
authors.affiliation: Department of Oncology, the Affiliated Hospital of Guangdong Medical College, Zhanjiang, China.
authors.forename: Cheng-Nong
authors.initials: CN
authors.lastname: Guan
authors.forename: Xin-Ming
authors.initials: XM
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Hai-Qing
authors.initials: HQ
authors.lastname: Lou
authors.forename: Xiang-Hui
authors.initials: XH
authors.lastname: Liao
authors.forename: Bao-Ying
authors.initials: BY
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Pei-Weng
authors.initials: PW
authors.lastname: Zhang
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D060466:Axin Protein / Q000378:metabolism*; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000378:metabolism*; D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000556:secondary; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002462:Cell Membrane / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D015972:Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D007124:Immunoenzyme Techniques; D008099:Liver / Q000378:metabolism; D008103:Liver Cirrhosis / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D011169:Portal Vein / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D011379:Prognosis; D000509:alpha-Fetoproteins / Q000378:metabolism; D051176:beta Catenin / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: C555451:AXIN1 protein, human; D060466:Axin Protein; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens; D000509:alpha-Fetoproteins; D051176:beta Catenin