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| Serine protease HtrA1 expression in human hepatocellular carcinoma |
| Feng Zhu, Lei Jin, Tian-Ping Luo, Guang-Hua Luo, Yan Tan and Xi-Hu Qin |
Changzhou, China
Author Affiliations: Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery (Zhu F, Jin L, Luo TP and Qin XH), Comprehensive Laboratory (Luo GH), and Department of Pathology (Tan Y), Third Affiliated Hospital, Soochow University, Changzhou 210003, China
Corresponding Author: Feng Zhu, MD, PhD, Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, Third Affiliated Hospital, Soochow University, Changzhou 210003, China (Tel: 86-519-86181348; Fax: 86-519-86180814; Email: zhufeng90med@sohu.com) |
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Abstract BACKGROUND: HtrA1, a serine protease, is down-regulated in various human solid tumors. Overexpression of HtrA1 in human cancer cells inhibits cell growth and proliferation in vitro and in vivo, suggesting its possible role as a tumor suppressor.
METHODS: Immunohistochemistry was used to determine the expression of HtrA1 in 50 hepatocellular carcinoma specimens and adjacent liver tissues. The correlation between the expression of HtrA1 and the clinico-pathologic data were analyzed.
RESULTS: The levels of HtrA1 were lower in tumor tissues than in their adjacent liver tissues. Moreover, an inverse relationship was found between HtrA1 expression and the differentiation of hepatocellular carcinoma. Loss of HtrA1 was more frequently found in tumors in Edmondson grade III-IV, especially in those with venous invasion, compared to tumors in Edmondson grade I-II. Most importantly, patients with higher HtrA1 expression had a better survival rate.
CONCLUSION: All these data suggest an important role of HtrA1 in hepatocellular carcinoma development and progression, which may be a new target for its treatment.
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2010, Vol. 9 
