title: Tumor SOCS3 methylation status predicts the treatment response to TACE and prognosis in HCC patients.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Suppressor of cytokine signaling (SOCS) 1 and 3 methylation have been associated with clinical features and outcomes of cancer patients. However, their roles in determining the treatment response to transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) remain unknown.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We found that presence of SOCS3 methylation is significantly associated with the major clinical features of HCC patients, including tumor stage, lymph node and vascular invasion. Of note, we observed that the presence of SOCS3 methylation is closely related to TACE response. In prognosis analyses, HCC patients with SOCS3 methylation presence have a poorer prognosis indicated by lower 3-, and 5-year survival rates and shorter mean survival period, than those without. Multivariate COX analysis confirms the prognostic role of the presence of SOCS3 methylation in HCC patients receiving TACE treatment.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 246 HCC patients receiving TACE were enrolled in this study. Tumor samples was obtained from echo-guided fine needle aspiration and genomic DNA from tumor samples was purified. SOCS1 and SOCS3 methylation status were detected using methylation-specific polymerase chain reaction. The treatment responses to TACE of patients were evaluated after procedure and all patients were followed for prognosis analysis.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This finding suggests that the presence of SOCS3 methylation is a marker to predict treatment response and prognosis in HCC patients receiving TACE therapy.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Eastern Hepatobiliary Surgery Hospital, Second Military Medical University, Shanghai, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Bei-Ge
authors.initials: BG
authors.lastname: Jiang
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Eastern Hepatobiliary Surgery Hospital, Second Military Medical University, Shanghai, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Neng
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Eastern Hepatobiliary Surgery Hospital, Second Military Medical University, Shanghai, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Jian
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Eastern Hepatobiliary Surgery Hospital, Second Military Medical University, Shanghai, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Yuan
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.affiliation: Department of Endocrinology, Shanghai Changzheng Hospital, Second Military Medical University, Shanghai, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Liang-Liang
authors.initials: LL
authors.lastname: Sun
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Eastern Hepatobiliary Surgery Hospital, Second Military Medical University, Shanghai, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Ze-Ya
authors.initials: ZY
authors.lastname: Pan
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Eastern Hepatobiliary Surgery Hospital, Second Military Medical University, Shanghai, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Wei-Ping
authors.initials: WP
authors.lastname: Zhou
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000235:genetics* / Q000401:mortality / Q000628:therapy*; D016461:Chemoembolization, Therapeutic / Q000379:methods; D019175:DNA Methylation; D006801:Humans; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000235:genetics* / Q000401:mortality / Q000628:therapy*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009362:Neoplasm Metastasis; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D011379:Prognosis; D000071223:Suppressor of Cytokine Signaling 3 Protein / Q000235:genetics*; D016019:Survival Analysis; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000071223:Suppressor of Cytokine Signaling 3 Protein
keywords: methylation; prognosis; suppressor of cytokine signaling; transarterial chemoembolization