title: Abnormality of Wnt3a expression as novel specific biomarker for diagnosis and differentiation of hepatocellular carcinoma.
abstract: The member 3a of Wingless-type MMTV integration site family (Wnt3a) as an oncogene is overexpressed in many kinds of tumors with a worse outcome. However, the mechanism and alteration of Wnt3a expression in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) have not been clarified. In this study, the levels of Wnt3a expression were investigated in 80 HCC tissues or sera of 186 patients with chronic liver diseases. The incidence of hepatic Wnt3a expression in HCC tissues was 96.25 % and significantly higher (χ (2) = 48.818, P < 0.001) than that in their surrounding tissues (46.25 %). The higher level (>800 ng/L) of circulating Wnt3a expression was found in 92.5 % HCC patients and significantly related (P < 0.05) to alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) level, liver cirrhosis, hepatitis B virus infection, poor differentiation, tumor node metastasis, and extra-hepatic metastasis. The level of Wnt3a expression in HCC patients was obviously higher (P < 0.001) than that in any group of cases with benign liver diseases. The diagnostic specificity or the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve was 94.34 % or 0.994 in Wnt3a and 69.81 % or 0.710 in AFP for HCC, respectively. The present data suggested that Wnt3a expression associated with tumor progression should be a novel specific biomarker for diagnosis and differentiation of HCC.
authors.affiliation: Research Center of Clinical Medicine, Affiliated Hospital of Nantong University, 20 West Temple Road, Nantong, Jiangsu, 226001, China.
authors.forename: Liuhong
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Pan
authors.affiliation: Department of Immunology, Medical School of Nantong University, Nantong, Jiangsu, 226001, China.
authors.forename: Min
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Yao
authors.affiliation: Research Center of Clinical Medicine, Affiliated Hospital of Nantong University, 20 West Temple Road, Nantong, Jiangsu, 226001, China.
authors.forename: Wenjie
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Zheng
authors.affiliation: Department of Oncology, Affiliated Hospital of Nantong University, Nantong, Jiangsu, 226001, China.
authors.forename: Juanjuan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Gu
authors.affiliation: Department of Oncology, Affiliated Hospital of Nantong University, Nantong, Jiangsu, 226001, China.
authors.forename: Xuli
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.affiliation: Research Center of Clinical Medicine, Affiliated Hospital of Nantong University, 20 West Temple Road, Nantong, Jiangsu, 226001, China.
authors.forename: Liwei
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Qiu
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, Affiliated Hospital of Nantong University, Nantong, Jiangsu, 226001, China.
authors.forename: Yin
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Cai
authors.affiliation: Research Center of Clinical Medicine, Affiliated Hospital of Nantong University, 20 West Temple Road, Nantong, Jiangsu, 226001, China.
authors.forename: Wei
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.affiliation: Research Center of Clinical Medicine, Affiliated Hospital of Nantong University, 20 West Temple Road, Nantong, Jiangsu, 226001, China. yaodf@ahnmc.com.
authors.forename: Dengfu
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Yao
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000097:blood / Q000235:genetics; D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000097:blood* / Q000235:genetics / Q000473:pathology; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005260:Female; D015972:Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000097:blood / Q000473:pathology / Q000821:virology; D006801:Humans; D008103:Liver Cirrhosis / Q000097:blood* / Q000235:genetics / Q000473:pathology; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000097:blood* / Q000235:genetics / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009362:Neoplasm Metastasis; D060509:Wnt3A Protein / Q000097:blood* / Q000235:genetics; D000509:alpha-Fetoproteins / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics
chemical_list: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; C555510:WNT3A protein, human; D060509:Wnt3A Protein; D000509:alpha-Fetoproteins
keywords: ELISA; Hepatocellular carcinoma; Immunohistochemistry; Wnt3a