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BPTF Associated with EMT Indicates Negative Prognosis in Patients with Hepatocellular Carcinoma
Shuai Xiao1, Longfei Liu, Min Fang
1Department of General Surgery, Affiliated Nanhua Hospital of University of South China, 336 South Dongfeng Road, Hengyang, 421002, Hunan Province, China.
Background/Aims:
Epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) plays an important role in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) dissemination. Bromodomain PHD-finger transcription factor (BPTF) could regulate embrogenesis and stem cell differentiation, and it may be involved in tumor progression and EMT. In this study, we aimed to determine BPTF, E-cadherin and vimentin expression in tumor tissues and the clinical significance in relation to HCC.
Methods:
The BPTF, vimentin and E-cadherin expression of 106 HCC tissue samples was examined by immunohistochemical staining.
Results:
BPTF and vimentin showed high expression and E-cadherin showed low expression in HCC. BPTF is associated with the tumor number, vascular invasion, Edmondson-Steiner grade, TNM stage and recurrence (P < 0.05). Vimentin is positively correlated with tumor size, tumor number, vascular invasion, Edmondson-Steiner grade, TNM stage and recurrence (P < 0.05). E-cadherin is negatively correlated with tumor number, Edmondson-Steiner grade, TNM stage and recurrence (P < 0.05). Survival analysis has shown that high expression of BPTF and vimentin indicates poorer overall and disease-free survival (P < 0.05). Multivariate analysis shows that BPTF is an independent marker for survival prediction (P = 0.015). Additionally, high BPTF expression is correlated with high vimentin expression and low E-cadherin expression (P < 0.05).
Conclusion:
High BPTF expression may be an independent marker for survival prediction in HCC patients and is probably involved in EMT.
