Studies On The Pattern Of Golgi Protein73Expressed In Liver Diseases And Correlates With Prognosis Of HCC

Aim:Serum Golgi protein73(sGP73) is a novel biomarker for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). However, there are few reports on the pattern of GP73expression in the progression of benign liver diseases to precancerous lesions and HCC. This study aimed to investigate GP73expression and it correlation with clinicopathologic parameters, including survival and recurrence.Methods:Tissue GP73(tGP73) levels were detected in specimens of group A (n=186) including HCC (n=62), peritumoral tissue (PTL)(n=43), high/low-grade hepatic atypical hyperplasia (AH)(n=32/2), chronic hepatitis B (CHB)(n=42) and normal controls (NC)(n=5) by immunohistochemistry. GP73expression in group B (n=159) including HCC (n=69), PTL (n=69), LC (n=10), CHB (n=5) and NC (n=6) were detected by RT-PCR, and group C (n=16) including HCC (n=4), high-grade AH (n=4), PTL (n=2), CHB (n=2) and NC (n=4) were detected by Western blot. sGP73levels were detected in subjects of group D (n=287) including HCC(n=60), LC (n=75), AH (n=23), CHB (n=56), NC (n=73) by ELISA.Results:GP73expression increased gradually from NC, CHB, PTL to high-grade AH and HCC at both protein and mRNA levels (P<0.05), the highest GP73level in HCC, there was no significant differences was found between HCC and high-grade AH groups (P=0.756). While sGP73in HCC group was lower than in liver cirrhosis (LC) group (P<0.001).Both tGP73and sGP73levels were negatively associated with tumor size and TNM stage, and tGP73levels were positively associated with tumor differentiation. The high-tGP73group showed significantly better overall and disease-free survival than low-tGP73group (P=0.008, P=0.018). Multivariate analysis revealed that the tGP73level was an independent prognostic factor for HCC, but not sGP73.Conclusions:GP73increases gradually in the progression of benign liver diseases to precancerous lesions and HCC. This expression pattern suggests the regulatory mechanism of GP73is related to the progression of chronic liver diseases. Furthermore, a high level of tGP73is a favorable prognostic factor for HCC.