Expression And Significance Of CD13 In Hepatocellular Carcinoma

Objective The aim of the current study was to assess the expression and significance of CD13 in hepatocellular carcinoma. Methods Tumor tissues and paired adjacent normal tissue(distance to cancer >5 cm) from forty-six hepatocellular carcinoma patients undergoing resection in the Second Hospital of Dalian MedicalUniversity from October 2005 to December 2009 were included in this study. The expression of aminopeptidase N, CD13, was detected by immunohistochemical staining. We also collected the clinical data and examined the correlation among parameters.Results CD13 expression localized in the membrane of tumor cells. The expressions of CD13 in hepatocellular carcinoma tissues were significantly higher than those in corresponding adjacent tissues. High CD13 expression was significantly associated with tumor differentiation degree. The lower the degree of tumor differentiation, the expression degree of CD13 is higher. The DFS and OS of the patients is positively correlated to CD13, and associated to TNM stage and the level of AFP. Positive CD13 expression indicates a poor prognosis of patients with hepatocellular carcinoma.