Stathmin overexpression cooperates with p53 mutation and osteopontin overexpression, and is associated with tumour progression, early recurrence, and poor prognosis in hepatocellular carcinoma
Journal
Journal of Pathology
Journal Volume
209
Journal Issue
4
Pages
549-558
Date Issued
2006
Author(s)
Chen H.-L.
Lai P.-L.
Pan H.-W.
Lin C.-Y.
Hsu H.-C.
Abstract
Stathmin, a major microtubule-depolymerizing protein, is involved in cell cycle progression and cell motility. This study aimed to elucidate its role in the progression, early tumour recurrence (ETR), and prognosis of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Stathmin mRNA was overexpressed in 88/156 (56%) resected, unifocal, primary HCCs, while p53 mutation was present in 72 (46%) and osteopontin mRNA overexpression in 79 (51%). Stathmin mRNA expression exhibited high concordance (93%) with protein expression in 107 cases examined by immunohistochemistry. Stathmin overexpression correlated with high α-fetoprotein (>200 ng/ml, p = 0.02), larger tumour size (>5 cm, p = 0.012), high tumour grade (p < 0.0002), high tumour stage (stage IIIA-IV) with vascular invasion and various degrees of intrahepatic metastasis (p < 1 × 10-8), ETR (p = 0.003), and lower 5-year survival (p = 0.0007). Stathmin protein expression was often more intense in the peripheral regions of tumour trabeculae, tumour borders, and portal vein tumour thrombi. Stathmin overexpression correlated with p53 mutation (p = 0.017) and osteopontin overexpression (p = 1 × 10-8), both of which were associated with vascular invasion (both p < 0.0001) and poorer prognosis (p < 0.0004 and p = 0.0004, respectively). Regardless of the status of p53 mutation or osteopontin expression, stathmin overexpression was associated with higher vascular invasion (all p < 0.0001). Approximately 90% of HCCs harbouring stathmin overexpression with concomitant p53 mutation or osteopontin overexpression exhibited vascular invasion, and hence the lowest 5-year survival, p = 0.00018 and p = 0.0009, respectively. However, we did not find that stathmin overexpression exerted prognostic impact independent of tumour stage. In conclusion, stathmin expression correlates with metastatic potential, is an important prognostic factor for HCC, and may serve as a useful marker to predict ETR. Copyright ? 2006 Pathological Society of Great Britain and Ireland. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Other Subjects
alpha fetoprotein; messenger RNA; osteopontin; protein p53; stathmin; adolescent; adult; aged; article; cancer grading; cancer growth; cancer invasion; cancer recurrence; cancer size; cancer staging; cancer surgery; cell cycle progression; cell motility; controlled study; correlation analysis; female; gene mutation; gene overexpression; human; human tissue; immunohistochemistry; liver cell carcinoma; liver metastasis; major clinical study; male; metastasis potential; portal vein; prediction; priority journal; prognosis; protein expression; survival rate; tumor thrombus; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular; Chi-Square Distribution; Disease Progression; DNA Mutational Analysis; Female; Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic; Genes, p53; Humans; Immunohistochemistry; Liver Neoplasms; Male; Middle Aged; Neoplasm Recurrence, Local; Osteopontin; Prognosis; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; Sialoglycoproteins; Stathmin; Tumor Markers, Biological
Type
journal article