title: Expression and clinical significance of YAP, TAZ, and AREG in hepatocellular carcinoma.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Yes-associated protein (YAP) and PDZ-binding motif (TAZ) are two important effectors of Hippo pathway controlling the balance of organ size and carcinogenesis. Amphiregulin (AREG) is a member of the epidermal growth factor family, a direct target gene of YAP and TAZ. The role of these proteins in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is unclear.
  
  
  METHODS
  The expression of YAP, TAZ, and AREG in HCC was analyzed by immunohistochemical staining. The level of secreted serum AREG was also assayed by enzyme-linked immunosorbent (ELISA) assay.
  
  
  RESULTS
  YAP, TAZ, and AREG were expressed in 69.2% (27/39), 66.7% (26/39), and 61.5% (24/39) of HCC patients. The expression of YAP was significantly correlated with Edmondson stage (P>0.05), serum AFP level (P>0.05), and HCC prognosis (P>0.05). AREG expression was also significantly correlated with Edmondson stage (P>0.05) and serum AFP level (P>0.05). In addition, the expression of serum AREG was higher than serum AFP in HCC patients. Further multivariate analysis showed that YAP expression was an independent prognostic factor that significantly affected the overall survival of HCC patients.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  YAP maybe an independent prognostic indicator for HCC patients and serum AREG may be a serological biomarker of HCC.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Oncology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University Medical College, Xi'an, Shaanxi 710061, China.
authors.forename: Su-xia
authors.initials: SX
authors.lastname: Han
authors.affiliation: Center of Maternal and Child Health, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University Medical College, Xi'an, Shaanxi 710061, China.
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Bai
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Oncology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University Medical College, Xi'an, Shaanxi 710061, China.
authors.forename: Gui-hua
authors.initials: GH
authors.lastname: Jin
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Oncology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University Medical College, Xi'an, Shaanxi 710061, China.
authors.forename: Chen-chen
authors.initials: CC
authors.lastname: He
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Oncology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University Medical College, Xi'an, Shaanxi 710061, China.
authors.forename: Xi-jing
authors.initials: XJ
authors.lastname: Guo
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Oncology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University Medical College, Xi'an, Shaanxi 710061, China.
authors.forename: Li-juan
authors.initials: LJ
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Oncology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University Medical College, Xi'an, Shaanxi 710061, China.
authors.forename: Meng
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Oncology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University Medical College, Xi'an, Shaanxi 710061, China.
authors.forename: Xia
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Ying
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Oncology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University Medical College, Xi'an, Shaanxi 710061, China.
authors.forename: Qing
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Zhu
mesh_terms: D000217:Acyltransferases; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D066258:Amphiregulin; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000235:genetics*; D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000235:genetics* / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology; D018797:Cell Cycle Proteins; D066255:EGF Family of Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D005260:Female; D015972:Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic; D006801:Humans; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000235:genetics* / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D009687:Nuclear Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D011379:Prognosis; D016019:Survival Analysis; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000235:genetics*; D000509:alpha-Fetoproteins / Q000235:genetics*
chemical_list: C097353:AFP protein, human; C587848:AREG protein, human; D066258:Amphiregulin; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D018797:Cell Cycle Proteins; D066255:EGF Family of Proteins; D009687:Nuclear Proteins; D014157:Transcription Factors; C456659:YY1AP1 protein, human; D000509:alpha-Fetoproteins; D000217:Acyltransferases; C108675:TAFAZZIN protein, human