Expression And Significance Of KLK7 In Hepatocellular Carcinoma

Objective To investigate the expression and clinical significance of KLK7 in hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC).Methods The paraffin-embedded tissue specimens and clinicopathologic data of 92 patients with HCC confirmed by postoperative pathology were collected,and the KLK7 expressions in HCC and the adjacent tissues were detected by immunohistochemical staining and the relations of KLK7 expression with clinicopathologic factors of the patients were analyzed.The m RNA and protein expressions of KLK7 in 20 paired frozen tissue samples of HCC and adjacent tissues were determined by q RT-PCR and Western blot analysis,respectively.Results The immunohistochemical results of 88 paraffin-embedded specimens showed that KLK7 expression was up-regulated in 58 cases(65.9%)of HCC tissues,and 26 cases(29.5%)were up-regulated in adjacent tissues(P<0.05);The q RT-PCR assay showed that the expression of KLK7 m RNA was significantly higher in the liver cancer tissues than in the adjacent tissues [(18.39±18.18)vs.(9.11±13.73)].The gray scale ratios of KLK7/?-actin were 1.45±0.24 and 0.65±0.16,respectively,with significant difference(P<0.001).Western blot was consistent with RT-PCR results.The high expression of KLK7 in HCC tissues was associated with tumor diameter(P = 0.011),tumor Edmondson grade(P=0.016),and tumor TNM stage(P=0.006).Conclusion The expression of KLK7 is up-regulated in HCC,and its high expression is associated with proliferation of hepatocellular carcinoma,and increase the invasion and migration ability of HCC cells.