Serum TSGF and miR-214 levels in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma and their predictive value for the curative effect of transcatheter arterial chemoembolization.

Abstract

The purpose of this study is to evaluate the expression of tumor-specific growth factor (TSGF) and microRNA-214 (miR-214) in the serum of patients with primary hepatocellular carcinoma (PHC) and their predictive values for the curative effect of transcatheter arterial chemoembolization (TACE). A retrospective analysis of the clinical data of 87 PHC patients were treated with TACE. According to the curative effect 1 month after TACE, PHC patients were divided into disease control group (n=56) and disease progression group (n=31). The expression levels of TSGF and miR-214 were detected by qRT-PCR before or after treatment with TACE in disease control group and disease progression group. The predictive value of TSGF and miR-214 for the efficacy of TACE were evaluated by the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve. The Kaplan-Meier survival curve was drawn according to the critical value of ROC. The effect of pretreatment levels of TSGF and miR-214 was analyzed on the three-year survival rate of patients. After TACE treatment, the mRNA expressive of serum TSGF were increased in progression group, while the levels of miR-214 were decreased compared with control group (P<0.05). Importantly, at one month after TACE treatment, the levels of TSGF were decreased in control group and progression group, while the expression of miR-214 was increased compared with in both groups before TACE treatment(P<0.05). The result of ROC analysis showed that for predicting the curative effect of TACE, the levels of TSGF and miR-214 expression were (181.32, 0.63) (0.849 and 0.807) and (0.759-0.938, 0.707-0.907) in the cutoff values, AUCs and 95% confidence intervals, respectively. The result of Kaplan-Meier analysis showed that the 3-year survival rate of the low TSGF group was up-regulated than that of the high TSGF group [65.12% (31/44) vs. 30.23% (13/43); χ2=5.014; P=0.025]. The 3-year survival rate of the miR-214 high expression group was up-regulated than that of the miR-214 low expression group [61.70% (29/47) vs. 30.00% (12/40); χ2=6.928; P=0.008]. Serum TSGF and miR-214 could be used as potential biomarkers for PHC diagnosis and prognosis.