title: Krüppel‑like factor expression and correlation with FAK, MMP‑9 and E‑cadherin expression in hepatocellular carcinoma.
abstract: Whether a focal adhesion kinase (FAK)‑Krüppel‑like factor 8 (KLF8)‑matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)‑9/E‑cadherin signaling axis exists in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) remains unknown. In the present study, KLF8 expression and its clinicopathological significance in HCC was investigated to determine the correlation between KLF8 and FAK, MMP‑9 and E‑cadherin expression. Tissues were obtained from 60 surgically resected HCC and normal tumor‑adjacent tissues. KLF8, FAK, MMP‑9 and E‑cadherin expression levels were examined by quantitative real‑time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (qRT‑PCR) and immunohistochemistry. In addition, KLF8, FAK, MMP‑9 and E‑cadherin protein expression levels were examined by western blot analysis in 5 portal vein cancer emboli and corresponding HCC tissues. The clinicopathological data of the HCC patients were retrospectively analyzed. KLF8 mRNA expression was found to be significantly upregulated in HCC tumor tissues compared with normal tumor‑adjacent tissues (P<0.05). KLF8 protein was highly expressed in portal vein cancer emboli. KLF8 expression level was significantly higher in tumors with advanced TNM stages and vascular invasion compared with that in tumors with early TNM stage and absence of vascular invasion (P<0.05). KLF8 protein and mRNA expression in HCC positively correlated with that of FAK (r=0.362, P<0.001; and r=0.377, P<0.01, respectively) and MMP‑9 (r=0.392, P<0.01; and r=0.336, P<0.01, respectively), but negatively correlated with E‑cadherin (r=‑0.364, P<0.01; and r=‑0.410, P<0.01, respectively). Results of the current study highlight a novel FAK‑KLF8‑MMP‑9/E‑cadherin signaling axis during HCC progression.
authors.affiliation: Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of College of Medicine, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, Shaanxi 710061, PR China.
authors.forename: Shaoshan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Han
authors.forename: Lei
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Han
authors.forename: Hao
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Sun
authors.forename: Xianfeng
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Zan
authors.forename: Zhenyu
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Zhou
authors.forename: Kedong
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Xu
authors.forename: Yingmin
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Yao
authors.forename: Qingguang
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Liu
mesh_terms: D015820:Cadherins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D051416:Focal Adhesion Protein-Tyrosine Kinases / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D015972:Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic; D006801:Humans; D051741:Kruppel-Like Transcription Factors / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D020780:Matrix Metalloproteinase 9 / Q000235:genetics*; D008954:Models, Biological; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D012097:Repressor Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D015398:Signal Transduction
chemical_list: D015820:Cadherins; C507402:KLF8 protein, human; D051741:Kruppel-Like Transcription Factors; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D012097:Repressor Proteins; D051416:Focal Adhesion Protein-Tyrosine Kinases; D020780:Matrix Metalloproteinase 9