title: Low expression of activating transcription factor 3 in human hepatocellular carcinoma and its clinicopathological significance.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To explore the expression and role of activating transcription factor 3 in human hepatocellular carcinoma.
  
  
  METHODS
  Immunohistochemistry, Western blot assay and Real-time PCR were used to evaluate activating transcription factor 3 protein and gene level in HCC clinical samples.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Activating transcription factor 3 expression is lowest in HCC, and the protein level is lower in patients with capsule invasion, while there is no association with other main clinical pathological features.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Low expression of ATF3 may function as a tumor suppressor during human hepatocellular oncogenesis and targeting ATF3 pathway might be beneficial for anti-HCC therapy.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology and Institute of Oncology, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou 350004, PR China.
authors.forename: Li
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Xiaoyan
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology and Institute of Oncology, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou 350004, PR China.
authors.forename: Zang
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Shengbing
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology and Institute of Oncology, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou 350004, PR China.
authors.forename: Zhang
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Yu
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology and Institute of Oncology, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou 350004, PR China.
authors.forename: Zheng
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.affiliation: Liver Center, the First Affiliated Hospital of Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou 350005, PR China.
authors.forename: Lin
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Chengjie
authors.affiliation: Liver Center, the First Affiliated Hospital of Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou 350005, PR China. Electronic address: drjingfeng@126.com.
authors.forename: Liu
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Jingfeng
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology and Institute of Oncology, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou 350004, PR China. Electronic address: draimin@163.com.
authors.forename: Huang
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Aimin
mesh_terms: D051700:Activating Transcription Factor 3 / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D015972:Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic; D006801:Humans; D008099:Liver / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged
chemical_list: D051700:Activating Transcription Factor 3
keywords: Activating transcription factor 3 (ATF3); Carcinoma; Gene expression; Hepatocellular