title: The role of DEK protein in hepatocellular carcinoma for progression and prognosis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The study aim was to explore the role of DEK in tumor progression and prognostic of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).
  
  
  METHODS
  DEK protein in 178 samples of HCC was evaluated by immunohistochemical method. Additionally, the correlation between DEK expression and the clinicopathological features was evaluated by x(2) test or Fisher's exact test, the survival rates were calculated by the Kaplan-Meier method, and the relationship between prognostic factors and patient survival was also by the Cox analysis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  DEK protein expression was noted in 86 cases of HCC, and 61 cases of normal liver tissues. DEK positive rate were closely correlated with the tumor size, grade, AJCC stage and survival rate (P<0.05, respectively). HCC with large tumor, lower grade, and late-stage, concomitant with DEK expression, had the lowest 5-years survival rate than HCC with above factors but without DEK expression (P<0.01, respectively). DEK expression emerged as significant independent hazard factors for survival in HCC (P<0.01).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  DEK could promote aggressiveness of cancer behavior, and hence poor prognosis of the HCC. It might be an independent poor prognostic factor and can serve as a useful new therapeutic biomarker.
authors.affiliation: Li-juan Lin, Department of Medical imaging, Eastern Liaoning University of Medicine, Dandong-city (118000), Liaoning- Province, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Li-Juan
authors.initials: LJ
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.affiliation: Li-tian Chen, Department of Liver Transplantation Surgery, Xin Hua Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai-city (200092), P.R. China.
authors.forename: Li-Tian
authors.initials: LT
authors.lastname: Chen
keywords: Carcinoma; DEK; Hepatocellular; Immubohistochemistry; Prognosis