ABCG2 Overexpression Confers Poor Outcomes in Hepatocellular Carcinoma of Elderly Patients.
Backgroung/Aim: Breast cancer resistance protein [BCRP/ATP-binding cassette subfamily G member 2 (ABCG2)] is a member of the ATP-binding cassette transporter family, used as a maker of cancer stem cells (CSCs) and thought to be responsible for drug resistance by pumping them out of cells. However, its precise role in various cancer types has been controversial, and the aim of this study was to investigate the expression of ABCG2 in hepacellular carcinoma (HCC) and relate the results to established prognostic factors.


METHODS
We conducted analysis of 181 HCC and paired-match adjacent normal liver tissue by immunohistochemistry from tissue array of slides.


RESULTS
The mean score for ABCG2 expression was higher in tumor than in adjacent normal liver tissue of HCC patients (p<0.001). There was a statistically significant correlation between ABCG2 expression and age, differentiation status and hepatitis B surface antigen (p=0.031, p=0.015 and p=0.033, respectively). Additionally, increased expression of ABCG2 in HCC and its statistically significant correlation with hepatitis B surface antigen was found in elderly (p=0.039), not in younger patients (p=0.518). Importantly, by using Kaplan-Meier and Cox regression analysis, overall survival in patients with high expression of ABCG2 was found reduced in elderly patients (p=0.029 and p=0.081, respectively).


CONCLUSIONS
ABCG2 can be used as a target for the development of novel therapies in HCC.
School of Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan, R.O.C. Department of General Surgery, Changhua Christian Hospital, Changhua, Taiwan, R.O.C.
Yao-Li
YL
Chen
Research Assistant Center, Show Chwan Memorial Hospital, Changhua, Taiwan, R.O.C.
Po-Ming
PM
Chen
Department of General Surgery, Changhua Christian Hospital, Changhua, Taiwan, R.O.C.
Ping-Yi
PY
Lin
Department of Pathology, Show Chwan Memorial Hospital, Changhua, Taiwan, R.O.C. twooneboy@gmail.com chu.peiyi@msa.hinet.net.
Ya-Tze
YT
Hsiau
Department of Pathology, Show Chwan Memorial Hospital, Changhua, Taiwan, R.O.C. School of Medicine, College of Medicine, Fu-Jen Catholic University, New Taipei City, Taiwan, R.O.C. National Institute of Cancer Research, National Health Research Institutes, Tainan, Taiwan, R.O.C. twooneboy@gmail.com chu.peiyi@msa.hinet.net.
Pei-Yi
PY
Chu
D000070997:ATP Binding Cassette Transporter, Subfamily G, Member 2 / Q000032:analysis*; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000737:chemistry / Q000401:mortality* / Q000821:virology; D006515:Hepatitis B virus / Q000302:isolation & purification; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008099:Liver / Q000737:chemistry; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000737:chemistry / Q000401:mortality* / Q000821:virology; D008875:Middle Aged; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins / Q000032:analysis*
C116614:ABCG2 protein, human; D000070997:ATP Binding Cassette Transporter, Subfamily G, Member 2; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins
ABCG2; elderly patients; hepatocellular carcinoma; poor prognosis