Clinical significance of thrombospondin 1 expression in hepatocellular carcinoma

Thrombospondin 1 (THBS 1) is a matricellular protein capable of modulating angiogenesis. However, the actual role of THBS 1 in angiogenesis and tumor progression remains controversial. Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a hypervascular tumor characterized by neovascularization. The significance of THBS 1 in HCC remains unknown. In this study, the significance of THBS 1 in HCC was evaluated by correlating its expression with clinicopathological data. The possible role of THBS 1 in the angiogenesis of HCC was also studied by correlating its expression with vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) expression.

Sixty HCC patients were recruited in this study. THBS 1 and VEGF protein expression in tumorous livers were localized by immunohistochemical staining and quantified by ELISA. THBS 1 mRNA was quantified by quantitative reverse transcription-PCR.

Immunohistochemical staining of THBS 1 was positive in HCC cells in 51.7% of patients and in stromal cells in 65% of patients. Tumor THBS 1 protein level was significantly correlated with its mRNA expression (P = 0.001) and was significantly correlated with tumor VEGF protein levels (P = 0.001). Its expression was significantly associated with the presence of venous invasion (P = 0.008) and advanced tumor stage (P = 0.049). High THBS 1 expression was also a prognostic marker of poor survival in HCC patients.

This study shows that high expression of THBS 1 is associated with tumor invasiveness and progression in HCC. THBS 1 appears to be a proangiogenic factor that stimulates angiogenesis in HCC in view of its positive correlation with VEGF expression.