Expressions and significances of Pyk2, VEGF and N-cadherin in hepatocellular carcinoma

Abstract

Objective To investigate the expressions of proline-rich tyrosine kinase-2 (Pyk2), vascular endotheliar growth factor (VEGF), and N-cadherin in hepatocellular carcinomas and their clinical significances. Methods The expressions of Pyk2, VEGF, and N-cadherin proteins were tested with immunohistochemistry in 80 cases of hepatocellular carcinomas and adjacent paracancerous tissues. Results The positive rates of Pyk2, VEGF, and N-cadherin in hepatocellular carcinomas were significantly higher than adjacent paracancerous tissues (71.3% vs 12.0%; 63.8% vs 8.0%; 57.5% vs 10.0%, P<0.05). The differences in the expressions of Pyk2, VEGF, and N-cadherin in hepatocellular carcinoma of pathological grading, tumor differentiation, vascular invasion and clinical tumor node metastasis (TNM) stage were significant (P<0.05). Significantly positive correlation was found between Pyk2 and VEGF or N-cadherin with Spearman correlation analysis (all P<0.05). There was positive correlation between N-cadherin and VEGF (P<0.05). Conclusions The abnormal expressions of Pyk2, VEGF, and N-cadherin genes may promote tumor angiogenesis and progression of hepatocellular carcinoma. Pyk2 may provide an important reference for prognostic evaluation of hepatocellular carcinoma. Key words: Protein-tyrosine kinases/ME; Vascular endothelial growth factors/ME; Cadherins/ME; Carcinoma, hepatocellular/ME/PA