Related Experiment Video
Updated: Oct 3, 2025
A Three-Dimensional Spheroid Model to Investigate the Tumor-Stromal Interaction in Hepatocellular Carcinoma
Published on: September 30, 2021
ROCK2 Polymorphism and Expression Contribute to Increased Susceptibility and Poor Prognosis in Hepatocellular
Lifeng Qin1,2, Xin Liu3, Li'na Lan4
1Hubei Provincial Key Laboratory of Occurrence and Intervention of Rheumatic Diseases (Hubei Minzu University), Enshi, 445000, Hubei Province, People's Republic of China.
Aim:
To analyze the association between ROCK2 gene polymorphism/expression and susceptibility/prognosis of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).
Methods:
Peripheral venous blood from 204 hepatocellular carcinoma patients (HCC group), 242 chronic hepatitis B patients (CHB group), 215 liver cirrhosis patients (LC group) and 201 healthy volunteers (normal group) were collected. ROCK2 gene (including the rs9808232 locus) was amplified by PCR and the products were sequenced. Tumor tissues from patients with HCC and liver tissues from CHB, LC and normal groups were collected, and mRNA and protein expression of ROCK2 gene in liver tissues were tested by RT-qPCR and immunofluorescence, respectively.
Results:
Compared with the normal group, the mRNA and protein expression levels of ROCK2 in the HCC group increased significantly (P < 0.05), but there are no obvious increases in the CHB and LC groups (P > 0.05). ROCK2 gene rs9808232 polymorphism was associated with an increased susceptibility of HCC, and genotypes AC and CC may be risk factors for HCC (P < 0.001). There was a significant association between the ROCK2 gene rs9808232 polymorphism and the route of metastasis in HCC patients (P < 0.05). According to the Kaplan-Meier analysis, the overall survival of patients with AC and CC genotypes of ROCK2 rs9808232 was much shorter than that of patients with AA genotype (median overall survival, 25.5 months vs 16.0 months; Log rank P = 0.006). The overall survival time of patients with high ROCK2 expression is much shorter than that of patients with low ROCK2 expression (median overall survival time, 15.0 months vs 20.5 months; Log rank P = 0.008). Compared with genotype AA, the ROCK2 protein levels of genotypes AC and CC were distinctly increased in the HCC group, especially genotype CC (P< 0.05).
Conclusion:
ROCK2 gene rs9808232 polymorphism may contribute to its expression in liver tissue, which may increase the susceptibility and poor prognosis of HCC.
More Related Videos
08:40A Biomimetic Model for Liver Cancer to Study Tumor-Stroma Interactions in a 3D Environment with Tunable Bio-Physical Properties
Published on: August 7, 2020
07:32Author Spotlight: Investigating Immune Cell Dynamics in the Tumor Microenvironment — Challenges and Innovations in Cancer Prognosis
Published on: April 12, 2024
Related Concept Videos
01:58Cell Specific Gene Expression
01:33Cancer-Critical Genes I: Proto-oncogenes
When the function of certain critical genes, especially those involved in cell cycle regulation and cell growth signaling cascades, gets disrupted, it upsets the cell cycle progression. Such cells with unchecked cell cycles start proliferating uncontrollably and eventually develop into tumors.
Such genes that act...
02:23Abnormal Proliferation
01:05Cancer-Critical Genes II: Tumor Suppressor Genes
When the function of certain critical genes, especially those involved in cell cycle regulation and cell growth signaling cascades, gets disrupted, it upsets the cell cycle progression. Such cells with unchecked cell cycles start proliferating uncontrollably and eventually develop into tumors.
Such genes that act...
03:03mTOR Signaling and Cancer Progression
The mTOR pathway or the...
01:12Loss of Tumor Suppressor Gene Functions
When the tumor suppressor genes develop mutations or are lost, cells start growing out of control, leading to cancer. However, a single functional copy of the tumor suppressor gene is enough for the cells to maintain their normal functions and cell...