title: Correlation of APOBEC3 in tumor tissues with clinico-pathological features and survival from hepatocellular carcinoma after curative hepatectomy.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study aimed to evaluate the relationships between members of APOBEC3 in tumor tissues and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) aggressiveness and prognosis.
  
  
  METHODS
  Using the expression profile GSE36376 from Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO), we compared APOBEC3 expression between tumor and non-tumor tissues, and correlated this with clinico-pathological features and outcomes of HCC patients.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A3B, A3D, A3F and A3H were overexpressed in HCC tumor tissues compared to non-tumor tissues (all P≤0.001). Cox regression shown that A3G was negatively associated with overall survival of HCC patients (HR=2.277, 95% CI=1.324-3.915, P=0.033), in contrast, A3C level in tumor tissues might play a positive role in HCC overall survival (HR=0.364, 95% CI=0.182-0.727, P=0.004). Interestingly, A3F contributed to a poor disease-free survival of HCC (HR=3.383, 95% CI=1.249-9.715, P=0.017), while A3H may be a positive factor associated with HCC disease-free survival (HR=0.25, 95% CI=0.098-0.636, P=0.004). Cirrhosis, tumor size and intrahepatic metastasis were associated with HCC poor disease-free survival (HR=1.838, 95% CI=1.308-2.583, P<0.001; HR= 1.095, 95% CI=1.042-1.15, P<0.001 and HR=3.669, 95% CI=2.447-5.5, P<0.001; respectively). Logistic regression analysis indicated that up-regulation of A3F in tumor tissues promoted HCC vascular invasion, intrahepatic metastasis and AFP elevation (all P<0.05). In contrast, A3H might decrease these risks (all P<0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  APOBEC3G and APOBEC3F might be risk factors for HCC development and survival, while APOBEC3C and APOBEC3H should play positive roles in HCC aggressiveness and prognosis. Further investigation for APOBEC3 mechanisms are needed in the future.
authors.affiliation: Shanghai Public Health Clinical Center, Fudan University Shanghai, 201508, China.
authors.forename: Zongguo
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.affiliation: Shanghai Public Health Clinical Center, Fudan University Shanghai, 201508, China.
authors.forename: Yunfei
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Lu
authors.affiliation: Shanghai Public Health Clinical Center, Fudan University Shanghai, 201508, China.
authors.forename: Qingnian
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Xu
authors.affiliation: Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center Shanghai, 200032, China ; Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University Shanghai, 200032, China.
authors.forename: Liping
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Zhuang
authors.affiliation: Shanghai Public Health Clinical Center, Fudan University Shanghai, 201508, China.
authors.forename: Bozong
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Tang
authors.affiliation: Shanghai Public Health Clinical Center, Fudan University Shanghai, 201508, China.
authors.forename: Xiaorong
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Chen
keywords: APOBEC3; APOBEC3C; APOBEC3F; APOBEC3G; APOBEC3H; hepatocellular carcinoma; liver cancer; prognosis; survival