Expression and prognostic value of SEMA3F protein in hepatocelluar carcinoma / 中华肝胆外科杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective To investigate the expression of Semaphorin 3F (SEMA3F) protein in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and to demonstrate its relationship with clinicopathological features and prognosis of HCC. Methods Western Blotting was carried out in 32 hepatocellular carcinoma samples and matched perineoplastic tissues to detect the expression of SEMA3F protein. The relationship between SEMA3F protein expression and clinicopathological features as well as prognosis of HCC patients was analyzed. Immunohistochemistry was used to show the location of SEMA3F in HCC cells and its relationship with microvessel density (MVD). Results The expression of SEMA3F protein in HCC tissues was significantly higher than in the perineoplastic tissues (447.78± 48.26 vs 618.93 ±61.23, P＜0. 05) and it was correlated closely with tumor capsulation and tumor nodular number (P＜0.05). Based on the Western Blotting and clinical follow-up data, we found that the survival time of HCC patients with a higher SEMA3F expression level was longer than those with a lower level, and the recurrent/metastatic time of HCC patients was significantly different between these two groups (P＜0.01). Immunohistochemistry demonstrated that SEMA3F protein localized in the cytoplasm of HCC cells and its expression correlated with HCC MVD. MVD in the low-level group was higher than the high-level group (115.6±30.38 vs 86. 56±17.94, P＜0.01). Conclusions SEMA3F expression in HCC was significantly down-regulated and correlated closely with tumor-capsulation, nodular number, and MVD, implicating SEMA3F may play an important role in recurrence and metastasis of HCC. It can be regarded as a prognostic marker in HCC patients.