title: CCL15 overexpression predicts poor prognosis for hepatocellular carcinoma.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The purpose of this study was to study the expression of CCL15 in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and explore its clinicopathological significance, and study relationships between expressions of CCL15 and malignant behaviors of HCC.
  
  
  METHODS
  The SP immunohistochemical method was used to detect expression of CCL15 in routinely paraffin-embedded sections from 80 cases of HCC, 80 of adjacent cancerous specimens and 50 of normal liver tissue. In these patients with HCC, Kaplan-Meier was used to assess survival outcomes.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The positive rates and scores of CCL15 were significantly higher in HCC than adjacent cancerous specimens and normal liver tissue (p < 0.05), but not significantly higher between adjacent cancerous specimens and normal liver tissue (p > 0.05). The expression of CCL15 was significantly correlated to tumor size, tumor thrombi in portal vein of HCC, capsule and TNM stage (p < 0.05), but not to sex, age, liver cirrhosis and the level of AFP so on (p > 0.05). Survival time of the patients with positive CCL15 expression was significantly decreased, and multivariate analysis indicated CCL15 expression was one of the independent predictors of survival (p = 0.042).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The expression of CCL15 was significantly correlated with malignant behaviors of HCC, and CCL15 might be important biological markers for reflecting the carcinogenesis, progression, biological behaviors and prognosis of HCC.
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Laboratory, Tianjin Medical University Cancer Institute and Hospital, National Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Key Laboratory of Cancer Prevention and Therapy, The National "863" Program of Clinical Research Laboratory, Tianjin, 300060, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: YueGuo
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: Department of Interventional Therapy, Tianjin Medical University Cancer Institute and Hospital, National Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Key Laboratory of Cancer Prevention and Therapy, The National "863" Program of Clinical Research Laboratory, Tianjin, 300060, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Hai Peng
authors.initials: HP
authors.lastname: Yu
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Laboratory, Tianjin Medical University Cancer Institute and Hospital, National Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Key Laboratory of Cancer Prevention and Therapy, The National "863" Program of Clinical Research Laboratory, Tianjin, 300060, People's Republic of China. kesaqi@163.com.
authors.forename: Peng
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Zhang
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000737:chemistry / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000378:metabolism; D019742:Chemokines, CC / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D053208:Kaplan-Meier Estimate; D008099:Liver / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000737:chemistry / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000378:metabolism; D019402:Macrophage Inflammatory Proteins / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011379:Prognosis; D016019:Survival Analysis; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: C108814:CCL15 protein, human; D019742:Chemokines, CC; D019402:Macrophage Inflammatory Proteins
keywords: CCL15; Hepatocellular carcinoma; Immunohistochemistry; Survival time