title: Astrocyte elevated gene-1 is a novel biomarker of epithelial-mesenchymal transition and progression of hepatocellular carcinoma in two China regions.
abstract: Astrocyte elevated gene-1 (AEG-1) is involved in important biological processes including cell invasion, metastasis, and carcinogenesis. However, its clinical significance has remained largely unknown in hepatocellular carcinoma. Here, specimens from 144 patients with hepatocellular carcinomas in Beijing and Heilongjiang regions were investigated by immunohistochemical staining for AEG-1, vimentin, and E-cadherin expressions. A clinicopathological study revealed that AEG-1 expression level in tumor cells was significantly correlated with TNM stage (P = 0.001) and Edmonson grade (P < 0.0001). In addition, AEG-1, vimentin, and E-cadherin (epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) biomarker) expressions were correlated with each other. These findings suggest that AEG-1 may be an epithelial-mesenchymal transition-associated biomarker in human hepatocellular carcinoma and play important roles in the progression of hepatocellular carcinoma. In addition, the AEG-1 gene is a potential target for elimination of hepatocellular carcinoma in the future.
authors.affiliation: Intervention Therapy Center of Liver Diseases, Beijing You'an Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, 100069, China, zhengjiasheng66@163.com.
authors.forename: Jiasheng
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Zheng
authors.forename: Cong
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Xia
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.forename: Yingzhuo
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: Meijun
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hao
authors.forename: Shoupeng
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sheng
authors.forename: Yu
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Sun
authors.forename: Honghai
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Jiang
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Long
authors.forename: Caixia
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Hu
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000032:analysis*; D015820:Cadherins / Q000096:biosynthesis; D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D015815:Cell Adhesion Molecules / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D002681:China; D018450:Disease Progression; D058750:Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition / Q000235:genetics*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008565:Membrane Proteins; D008875:Middle Aged; D060787:Neoplasm Grading; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D016601:RNA-Binding Proteins; D014746:Vimentin / Q000096:biosynthesis
chemical_list: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D015820:Cadherins; D015815:Cell Adhesion Molecules; C483039:MTDH protein, human; D008565:Membrane Proteins; D016601:RNA-Binding Proteins; D014746:Vimentin