Association Of Smad4, Fascin And Cortactin Expression In Hepatocellular Carcinoma: Correlation With Clinicpathological Parameters

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the expression of Smad4, Fascin, Cortactin protein in hepatocellular carcinoma, combine with some clinical pathological factors to discuss the relationship between expressions of Smad4, Fascin, Cortactin and the progress, metastasis and prognosis of hepatocellular carcinoma.METHODSThe expressions of Smad4, Fascin, Cortactin proteins were examined in 117 hepatocellular carcinoma tissues by immunhistochemical staining. The association between the clinicopathologic features with Smad4, Fascin, Cortactin expression were evaluated. Part of patients were visited, 74 clincopathology and the survival time of the patients were analyzed. SPSS 13.0 statistical software was used for the analysis.RESULTS1. Expression of Smad4 was demonstrated in 31.6% of hepatocellular carcinoma and 85.7% of healthy controls, (χ2=6.310, P=0.012). Expression of Smad4 significantly correlated with serum AFP level, histological differentiation, metastasis, T stage (UICC) and Chinese staging systems.2. Expression of Fascin was demonstrated in 69.2% of hepatocellular carcinoma and 14.3% of healthy controls, (χ2=6.618, P=0.010). Expression of Fascin significantly correlated with histological differentiation, metastasis, and Chinese staging systems.3. Expression of Cortactin was demonstrated in 62.4% of hepatocellular carcinoma and 14.3% of healthy controls, (χ2=4.510, P=0.034). Expression of Cortactin significantly correlated with tumor size, histological differentiation, metastasis, T stage (UICC) and Chinese staging systems.4. The positive rate of Fascin in Smad4 negative group (77.5%) was higher than that in Smad4 positive group (51.35%), coefficient of correlation r=-0.263. The positive rate of Cortactin in Smad4 negative group (78.75%) was higher than that in Smad4 positive group (27.03%), coefficient of correlation r=-0.497. The positive rate of Cortactin in Fascin positive group (81.48%) was higher than that in Fascin negative group (19.44%), coefficient of correlation r=0.591.5. Kaplan-Meier survival curves showed that Smad4 negative expression, Fascin positive expression, Cortactin positive expression, histological differentiation, metastasis, and tumor size effect on the patients survival time. Cox multiple regression showed that the partial regression coefficient of histological differentiation and Smad4 were -1.099,-1.722. The confidence interval of 95% were (0.123, 0.906) and (0.034, 0.946).CONCLUTIONS1. Smad4 was low expression in hepatocellular carcinoma; Fascin and Cortactin were high expression in hepatocellular carcinoma.2. Negative expression of Smad4 and positive expression of Fascin, Cortactin were closely related to histological differentiation, metastasis, and Chinese staging systems. Smad4, Fascin, and Cortactin can be important indicator of the metastasis and prognosis.3. Positive correlations were observed between the expression of Smad4, Fascin and Cortactin in hepatocellular carcinoma tissues. It suggested that Smad4 could influence the expression of Fascin and Cortactin in hepatocellular carcinoma tissues through some mechanisms.4. Smad4 negative expression, Fascin positive expression, Cortactin positive expression, tumor size, histological differentiation, metastasis, T stage (UICC) and Chinese staging systems effect on patients'survival. Histological differentiation and Smad4 can be used as independent prognostic factors. Smad4, Fascin, Cortactin can be important indicators of the metastasis and prognosis to the HCC patients.