title: Expression of Maternal Embryonic Leucine Zipper Kinase (MELK) Correlates to Malignant Potentials in Hepatocellular Carcinoma.
abstract: Maternal embryonic leucine zipper kinase (MELK) is categorized as a member of AMP-activated protein kinase families. Various MELK-associated cellular and biological processes affect multiple stages of tumorigenesis. The aim of the present study was to clarify the relationship between MELK expression and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) clinicopathological features.
  
  
  
  In thirty conserved frozen primary HCC and non-HCC samples MELK mRNA expression was examined by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR).
  
  
  
  HCC tissues exhibited significantly higher expression levels compared to non-cancerous tissues. MELK expression had a statistically parallel correlation between tumor diameter and protein induced by vitamin K absence or antagonist II (PIVKA-II). The overall survival (OS) and recurrence-free survival (RFS) of the low MELK mRNA expression group was significantly longer than that of the high MELK mRNA expression group.
  
  
  
  MELK expression in HCC is extremely intense compared to its expression reported in other types of cancer. MELK could be a promising effective tumor marker of HCC and further consideration is needed.
authors: Department of Digestive Surgery, Breast and Thyroid Surgery Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences Kagoshima University, Kagoshima, Japan.
authors: Kiyokazu
authors: K
authors: Hiwatashi
authors: Department of Clinical Oncology, Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences Kagoshima University, Kagoshima, Japan ueno1@m.kufm.kagoshima-u.ac.jp.
authors: Shinichi
authors: S
authors: Ueno
authors: Department of Digestive Surgery, Breast and Thyroid Surgery Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences Kagoshima University, Kagoshima, Japan.
authors: Masahiko
authors: M
authors: Sakoda
authors: Department of Digestive Surgery, Breast and Thyroid Surgery Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences Kagoshima University, Kagoshima, Japan.
authors: Satoshi
authors: S
authors: Iino
authors: Department of Digestive Surgery, Breast and Thyroid Surgery Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences Kagoshima University, Kagoshima, Japan.
authors: Koji
authors: K
authors: Minami
authors: Department of Digestive Surgery, Breast and Thyroid Surgery Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences Kagoshima University, Kagoshima, Japan.
authors: Keiichi
authors: K
authors: Yonemori
authors: Department of Digestive Surgery, Breast and Thyroid Surgery Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences Kagoshima University, Kagoshima, Japan.
authors: Yuka
authors: Y
authors: Nishizono
authors: Department of Digestive Surgery, Breast and Thyroid Surgery Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences Kagoshima University, Kagoshima, Japan.
authors: Hiroshi
authors: H
authors: Kurahara
authors: Department of Digestive Surgery, Breast and Thyroid Surgery Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences Kagoshima University, Kagoshima, Japan.
authors: Yuko
authors: Y
authors: Mataki
authors: Department of Digestive Surgery, Breast and Thyroid Surgery Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences Kagoshima University, Kagoshima, Japan.
authors: Kosei
authors: K
authors: Maemura
authors: Faculty of Medical School of Health Sciences, Graduate School of Health Sciences Kagoshima University, Kagoshima, Japan.
authors: Hiroyuki
authors: H
authors: Shinchi
authors: Department of Digestive Surgery, Breast and Thyroid Surgery Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences Kagoshima University, Kagoshima, Japan.
authors: Shoji
authors: S
authors: Natsugoe
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000235:genetics; D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000235:genetics* / Q000473:pathology; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics* / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D017346:Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases / Q000235:genetics*; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism; D016019:Survival Analysis; D047368:Tumor Burden
chemical_list: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D012333:RNA, Messenger; C484610:MELK protein, human; D017346:Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases
keywords: HCC; MELK; PCR; tumor marker