title: Tissue Levels of Stefin A and Stefin B in Hepatocellular Carcinoma.
abstract: Stefins have been reported to be associated with the progression and metastasis of various malignant tumors. However, the expressions of stefins in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) have not been well-defined. In this study, the protein levels of stefin A and stefin B were assessed by immunohistochemical staining, and the mRNA levels were quantified by real-time polymerase chain reaction in 85 primary HCC tissues, 85 surrounding non-cancerous tissues, and 9 normal hepatic tissues. The immunohistochemical staining of cathepsin B and cathepsin D, and the ratio of cathepsins to stefins were assessed. The mRNA expressions of stefin A and stefin B in HCC tissues were significantly higher than surrounding noncancerous tissues and normal hepatic tissues, respectively. A significant positive relationship of stefin A and stefin B was found with node metastasis, tumor size, and Edmondson grade for HCC. Univariate and multivariate analyses revealed that Edmondson grade and stefin B expression were independent factors associated with the risk of lymph node metastasis in HCC. The ratios of cathepsin B to stefin A, cathepsin D to stefin A, cathepsin B to stefin B and cathepsin D to stefin B of the HCC group were significantly higher than that of the surrounding noncancerous group. A significant positive correlation between the ratio of cathepsins to stefins (cathepsin B/stefin A, cathepsin B/stefin B and cathepsin D/stefin B) and node metastasis was demonstrated. We concluded that high expressions of stefin A and stefin B may be an important factor contributing to the development and metastasis of HCC.
authors.affiliation: Department of Human Anatomy, Histology and Embryology, School of Basic Medical Science, Putian University, Putian, Fujian, China.
authors.forename: Yang-Yuan
authors.initials: YY
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, the Affiliated Hospital of Putian University, Putian, Fujian, China.
authors.forename: Zhi-Wei
authors.initials: ZW
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.affiliation: Department of Human Anatomy, Histology and Embryology, School of Basic Medical Science, Putian University, Putian, Fujian, China.
authors.forename: Zhi-Ping
authors.initials: ZP
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.affiliation: Department of Human Anatomy, Histology and Embryology, School of Basic Medical Science, Putian University, Putian, Fujian, China.
authors.forename: Li-Bin
authors.initials: LB
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.affiliation: Department of Human Anatomy, Histology and Embryology, School of Basic Medical Science, Putian University, Putian, Fujian, China.
authors.forename: Xue-Ming
authors.initials: XM
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.affiliation: Department of Human Anatomy, Histology and Embryology, School of Basic Medical Science, Putian University, Putian, Fujian, China.
authors.forename: Li-Yan
authors.initials: LY
authors.lastname: Xu
authors.affiliation: Department of Human Anatomy, Histology and Embryology, School of Basic Medical Science, Putian University, Putian, Fujian, China.
authors.forename: Qun
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Xie
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000556:secondary; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002403:Cathepsins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D055312:Cystatin A / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D055313:Cystatin B / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007124:Immunoenzyme Techniques; D008099:Liver / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D060787:Neoplasm Grading; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D011379:Prognosis; D060888:Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction
chemical_list: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; C524994:CSTB protein, human; D055312:Cystatin A; C026407:CSTA protein, human; D055313:Cystatin B; D002403:Cathepsins
keywords: hepatocellular carcinoma; metastasis; stefin A; stefin B