Expression and clinical significance of frizzled-7 and β-catenin in human hepatocellular carcinoma / 中华肝胆外科杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective To explore the expression of frizzled-7 and β-catenin proteins in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC),and determine their relationship with clinicopathological features and prognosis.Methods Expression levels of frizzled-7 and β-catenin proteins were detected by the SP immunohistochemical technique in 64 cases of HCC and 15 normal liver tissues.Results Frizzled-7 and β-catenin proteins were found in 42 (65.6％) and 45 (70.3％) of tumor specimens respectively,which was significantly higher than that in normal liver tissues.The expression of frizzled-7 protein was significantly positively correlated with that of β-catenin (P ＜ 0.05) in HCC.The high expression of frizzled-7 was closely correlated to tumor size (P =0.014),histologic grade (P =0.020),portal vein tumor thrombus (P =0.034),tumor recurrence (2 years,P =0.030),TNM stage (P =0.022),and HBsAg (P =0.025),and negatively correlated with 5-year postoperative survival (47.6％ vs.13.2％).The expression of β-catenin protein was significantly associated with histologic grade (P =0.012),tumor recurrence (2 years,P =0.010),and TNM stage (P =0.026),and negatively correlated with 5-year postoperative survival (36.8％ vs.20.0％).Conclusions Frizzled-7 is overexpressed in HCC and associated with decreased postoperative survival.Moreover,frizzled-7 may up-regulate the expression of β-catenin and promote β-catenin-mediated tumor invasion and recurrence.