title: Clinicopathological significance of S100A4 expression in human hepatocellular carcinoma.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Prognostic markers for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) could help in the clinical management and understanding of its poor prognosis. S100 calcium binding protein A4 (S100A4) is directly involved in tumour metastasis. This study evaluated S100A4 gene expression in human HCC, to identify its role in tumour progression.
  
  
  METHODS
  In this retrospective study, S100A4 protein levels in HCC samples from Chinese patients were evaluated using immunohistochemistry and compared with paired normal tumour-adjacent tissue samples (controls). All patients were evaluated for HCC recurrence.
  
  
  RESULTS
  S100A4 levels were significantly increased in HCC samples compared with controls (n = 72, each sample type). Moderately or poorly differentiated tumours had significantly higher levels of S100A4 protein than well-differentiated tumours, and those with tumour vascular invasion showed significantly higher S100A4 levels than those without invasion. Risk of recurrence increased in patients positive for S100A4, and S100A4 positivity correlated with a shorter overall survival time.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This pilot study suggests S100A4 as a likely tumour marker for HCC that correlates with tumour differentiation, invasion, recurrence and overall survival. S100A4 could be a useful marker of tumour aggressiveness and prognosis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Oncology, The Affiliated Hospital Medical College, Qingdao University, Qingdao, China.
authors.forename: Zimin
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Huamin
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Huazheng
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Pan
authors.forename: Qihang
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Du
authors.forename: Jun
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Liang
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology*; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D000071999:S100 Calcium-Binding Protein A4; D009418:S100 Proteins; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D000071999:S100 Calcium-Binding Protein A4; D009418:S100 Proteins; C077591:S100A4 protein, human
keywords: Hepatocellular carcinoma; S100 calcium binding protein A4 (S100A4); progression; tumour