In:
Journal of Translational Medicine, Springer Science and Business Media LLC, Vol. 10, No. 1 ( 2012-12)
Abstract:
Zinc-alpha2-glycoprotein (AZGP1, ZAG) was recently demonstrated to be an important factor in tumor carcinogenesis. However, AZGP1 expression in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and its significance remain largely unknown. Methods Quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) was applied to determine mRNA level of AZGP1 in 20 paired fresh HCC tissues. Clinical and pathological data of 246 HCC patients were collected. Tissue-microarray-based immunohistochemistry (IHC) was performed to examine AZGP1 expression in HCC samples. Relationship between AZGP1 expression and clinicopathological features was analyzed by Chi-square test, Kaplan-Meier analysis and Cox proportional hazards regression model. Results AZGP1 expression was significantly lower in 80.0% (16/20) of tumorous tissues than that in the corresponding adjacent nontumorous liver tissues ( P 〈 0.001). Consistently, IHC data revealed that decreased expression of AZGP1 was present in 80.1% (197/246) of HCC patient tissues ( P 〈 0.001). Furthermore, AZGP1 expression in HCC significantly associated with several clinicopathological parameters, including serum AFP level ( P = 0.013), liver cirrhosis ( P = 0.002) and tumor differentiation ( P = 0.025). Moreover, HCC patients with high AZGP1 expression survived longer, with better overall survival ( P = 0.006) and disease-free survival ( P = 0.025). In addition, low AZGP1 expression associated with worse relapse-free survival ( P = 0.046) and distant metastatic progression-free survival ( P = 0.036). Conclusion AZGP1 was downregulated in HCC and could be served as a promising prognostic marker for HCC patients.
Type of Medium:
Online Resource
ISSN:
1479-5876
DOI:
10.1186/1479-5876-10-106
Language:
English
Publisher:
Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Publication Date:
2012
detail.hit.zdb_id:
2118570-0
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