肝癌组织性别决定区相关高迁移率族盒蛋白4与β-连环蛋白的表达及其对术后早期复发的影响

Expression and relationship of sex determination region related high mobility group box protein 4 and β- catenin in hepatocellular carcinoma and their impact on early recurrence after radical hepatectomy

目的探讨肝癌中性别决定区相关高迁移率族盒蛋白4（SOX4）及β-连环蛋白（β-catenin）的表达相关性及其对肝癌术后早期复发的影响。方法 应用免疫组织化学技术检测40例术后复发和40例无术后早期复发肝癌及20例正常肝脏组织中SOX4及β-catenin的表达；Kaplan-Meier分析SOX4及β-catenin表达水平与肝癌患者的预后。结果SOX4在早期复发肝癌中的表达高于无早期复发肝癌和正常肝组织（65.0%比37.5%，P＝0.014，65.0%比15.0%，P＝0.000）；β-catenin在早期复发肝癌中的表达高于无早期复发肝癌和正常肝组织（70.0%比52.5%，P＝0.041，70.0%比5.0%，P＝0.000）；SOX4（P＝0.037）及β-catenin（P＝0.006）表达水平与肝癌微血管侵犯密切相关；免疫组织化学和Spearman等级非参数相关分析显示，SOX4与β-catenin的表达呈正相关（r＝0.250，P＝0.026）；SOX4及β-catenin表达水平与肝癌术后早期复发密切相关，其表达水平越高，患者的无瘤生存期和生存期越短。结论在早期复发肝癌中SOX4与β-catenin表达明显增高，且两者表达呈正相关，其表达水平与肝癌术后早期复发密切相关。

Objective To investigate the expression and relationship of sex determination region related high mobility group box protein 4 （SOX4） and β-catenin in hepatocellular carcinoma （HCC） and their impact on early recurrence after radical hepatectomy.Methods The SOX4 and β-catenin expression in 40 cases of HCC with or without early recurrence after radical hepatectomy and 20 normal liver tissues was detected using immunohistochemistry （IHC）. Kaplan-Meier analyses were utilized to determine the association of SOX4 and β-catenin expression with survival and recurrence of patients.Results The expression of SOX4 was higher in HCCs with early recurrence than in those without recurrence （65.0% vs. 37.5%, P=0.014） and normal liver tissues （65.0% vs. 15.0%, P=0.000）. The expression of β-catenin was higher in HCCs with early recurrence than in those without recurrence （70.0% vs. 52.5%, P=0.041） and normal liver tissues （70.0% vs. 5.0%, P=0.000）. The expression of SOX4 （P=0.037） and β-catenin （P=0.006） in HCCs was correlated with micro-vascular invasion of HCC. The expression of SOX4 and β-catenin in HCC had a positive correlation by IHC and Spearman nonparametric rank correlation analysis （r=0.250, P=0.026）. Patients with higher SOX4 and β-catenin expression had significantly shorter recurrence-free survival and overall survival than those with lower SOX4 and β-catenin expression.Conclusion SOX4 and β-catenin are overexpressed in HCC with early recurrence and there is a positive correlation between the expression of SOX4 and β-catenin. They may serve as novel biomarkers for HCC recurrence and prognosis after radical hepatectomy. The detection of SOX4 and β-catenin in HCC is of clinical significance.