title: Loss of SFRP1 Expression Is Associated with Poor Prognosis in Hepatocellular Carcinoma.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Secreted frizzled-related protein-1 (SFRP1) is a well-known inhibitor of the wingless type (WNT)-β-catenin signaling pathway and its inactivation plays an important role in the development and progression of various types of cancer. However, the clinical significance of SFRP1 expression in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) remains unknown.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 63 patients with HCC who underwent hepatectomy at our Institution were enrolled in this study. A quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) was performed to determine the SFRP1 mRNA expression level in both the tumorous and non-tumorous tissues of HCC. The patients were divided into low and high gene-expression groups based on the SFRP1 gene expression level in their tumor tissues. We analyzed the differences in clinicopathological characteristics between these two groups of patients.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The expression level of SFRP1 was significantly lower in tumor tissue than in non-tumor tissue (p<0.0001). Significant correlations were observed between a high expression of SFRP1 in tumor tissue and older than 65 years (p=0.030), tumor size less than 5 cm (p=0.011); and no vascular invasion (p=0.004). Patients with high SFRP1 expression in tumor tissue had a significantly better overall survival rate (p=0.040). However, the SFRP1 expression level was not defined as an independent risk factor for patient survival based on results of multivariate analysis.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  SFRP1 may play a role in the development and progression of HCC. Therefore, more studies are required to investigate a potential role of SFRP1 in HCC prognosis.
authors: Department of Surgery, Tokushima University, Kuramoto-cho, Tokushima, Japan Fujii Memorial Institute of Medical Sciences, Tokushima University, Kuramoto-cho, Tokushima, Japan.
authors: Mandakhnaran
authors: M
authors: Davaadorj
authors: Department of Surgery, Tokushima University, Kuramoto-cho, Tokushima, Japan.
authors: Satoru
authors: S
authors: Imura
authors: Department of Surgery, Tokushima University, Kuramoto-cho, Tokushima, Japan Fujii Memorial Institute of Medical Sciences, Tokushima University, Kuramoto-cho, Tokushima, Japan.
authors: Y U
authors: YU
authors: Saito
authors: Department of Surgery, Tokushima University, Kuramoto-cho, Tokushima, Japan.
authors: Yuji
authors: Y
authors: Morine
authors: Department of Surgery, Tokushima University, Kuramoto-cho, Tokushima, Japan.
authors: Tetsuya
authors: T
authors: Ikemoto
authors: Department of Surgery, Tokushima University, Kuramoto-cho, Tokushima, Japan Fujii Memorial Institute of Medical Sciences, Tokushima University, Kuramoto-cho, Tokushima, Japan.
authors: Shinichiro
authors: S
authors: Yamada
authors: Department of Surgery, Tokushima University, Kuramoto-cho, Tokushima, Japan.
authors: Chie
authors: C
authors: Takasu
authors: Department of Surgery, Tokushima University, Kuramoto-cho, Tokushima, Japan Fujii Memorial Institute of Medical Sciences, Tokushima University, Kuramoto-cho, Tokushima, Japan.
authors: Teraoku
authors: T
authors: Hiroki
authors: Department of Surgery, Tokushima University, Kuramoto-cho, Tokushima, Japan Fujii Memorial Institute of Medical Sciences, Tokushima University, Kuramoto-cho, Tokushima, Japan.
authors: Masato
authors: M
authors: Yoshikawa
authors: Department of Surgery, Tokushima University, Kuramoto-cho, Tokushima, Japan mitsuo.shimada@tokushima-u.ac.jp.
authors: Mitsuo
authors: M
authors: Shimada
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000235:genetics*; D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000235:genetics* / Q000401:mortality / Q000556:secondary / Q000601:surgery; D018450:Disease Progression; D018572:Disease-Free Survival; D015536:Down-Regulation; D005260:Female; D015972:Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic; D006498:Hepatectomy; D006801:Humans; D036341:Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D053208:Kaplan-Meier Estimate; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics* / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D008297:Male; D008565:Membrane Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D008875:Middle Aged; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local; D016016:Proportional Hazards Models; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics; D060888:Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012307:Risk Factors; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D000094742:Secreted Frizzled-Related Proteins
chemical_list: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D036341:Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins; D008565:Membrane Proteins; D012333:RNA, Messenger; C117636:SFRP1 protein, human; D000094742:Secreted Frizzled-Related Proteins
keywords: Hepatocellular carcinoma; SFRP1; prognostic factor