간세포암종에서 지방산 결합 단백질의 발현 소실과 예후와의 관계

Abstract

Background/Aims: Loss of liver fatty acid binding protein (LFABP) expression by immunohistochemistry is a useful marker for the identification of hepatocyte nuclear factor 1α (HNF1α)- inactivated hepatocellular adenomas; however, the expression status of LFABP in hepatocellular carcinomas (HCCs) is still unclear. We aimed to investigate the expression status of LFABP in HCCs and examine the clinicopathological characteristics of LFABP-negative HCCs.MethodsImmunohistochemical stains LFABP, K19 (mouse monoclonal, Dako, Glostrup, Denmark) and EpCAM (mouse monoclonal, Calbiochem, Darmstadt, Germany) were performed on tissue microarray sections from 188 surgically resected HCCs, and the association between LFABP expression status and the clinicopathological features, survival and “stemness”-related marker expression status were analyzed.ResultsLoss of LFABP expression was noted in 30 (16%) out of 188 HCCs. LFABP-negative HCCs were associated with a decreased recurrence-free survival (LFABP-negative: 17.0 ± 4.84 months [95% confidence interval [CI]: 7.5–26.5 months] versus LFABP-positive: 51.0 ± 8.7 months [95% CI: 34.0–68.0 months]; P=0.004). HCCs with LFABP expression loss were more frequently larger and showed more frequent vascular invasion, although not statistically significant; and an inverse correlation was seen between LFABP expression and K19 expression status (P=0.001).ConclusionsLoss of LFABP expression is seen in HCCs, and is associated with a decreased recurrence-free survival.