Abstract
Hepatocarcinogenesis and distant metastasis pose major challenges for physicians. They are regulated by several genes, such as AKT, JUK, Wnt, and P53, and their expression activates several important processes such as cell proliferation, migration, motility, and interaction in the microenvironment. The leucine-rich repeat-containing G-protein-coupled receptor 5 (LGR-5) is a novel biomarker, particularly in stem cells, and is involved in embryogenesis, tumor development, and tumor cell signal transduction. Here, we investigated LGR-5 expression using immunohistochemistry and analyzed the correlation between clinical features and prognosis in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). We found that LGR-5 expression was higher in tumor tissues than in normal liver tissues, and that high LGR-5 expression possibly favored poor outcomes in HCC, especially in well/moderate differentiation grade, hepatitis C virus (HCV)-negative, and hepatitis B virus (HBV)-positive groups. Thus, the LGR-5 marker is suggested to be a routine biomarker for poor prognosis, thereby providing a platform for anti-LGR-5-targeted therapy in the future.
Highlights
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a major cause of cancer-related deaths with increasing incidence and high mortality rates (35.5/100,000)
In this study, we investigated the role of leucine-rich repeat-containing G-protein-coupled receptor 5 (LGR-5) expression in HCC by comparing tumor and normal tissue specimens from Taiwanese people using immunohistochemistry (IHC) staining to determine if LGR-5 expression was an independent clinical outcome indicator of HCC
Similar results were observed during the recurrent history and high clinical stage in patients with HCC (Figure 2B,C). These results suggest that high LGR-5 expression is crucial for the clinical outcomes in patients with HCC
Summary
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a major cause of cancer-related deaths with increasing incidence and high mortality rates (35.5/100,000). Several risk factors, such as hepatitis B virus (HBV), hepatitis. C virus (HCV), alcoholic liver disease, and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, have been reported as causative factors in previous studies [1,2,3]. Chronic inflammation leading to cell death and regeneration has been observed, forming a vicious cycle in the promotion of hepatocarcinogenesis [4]. The tumor cells activate the release of growth factors and cytokines, thereby causing tumor progression and distant metastasis. Current therapeutic strategies are facing several challenges such as tumor resistance and host cell toxicity [4]. A highly sensitive and specific prediction assay utilizing a new target is necessary for the early prediction of HCC
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