Overexpression of protein kinase C alpha mRNA in human hepatocellular carcinoma: a potential marker of disease prognosis.

Abstract

BACKGROUND:

Members of the protein kinase C (PKC) isoenzyme family play a central role in the tumorigenesis of several tissues. However, little is known about subtype specific intracellular expression of PKC in human hepatocellular carcinomas.

METHODS:

We investigated PKC isoforms mRNA expression in 42 HCC specimens using reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction analysis, and the correlation between PKC isoforms expression and clinicopathologic parameters.

RESULTS:

We found that PKCalpha, PKCdelta and PKCiota mRNA were significantly increased in HCCs as compared to the corresponding non-cancerous liver tissues. PKCalpha expression also significantly correlated with tumor size (P<0.05) and TNM stage (P<0.05), but PKCdelta and PKCiota did not. The log-rank analysis revealed that patients with higher PKCalpha mRNA expression in the HCC tissues had significantly shorter survival rate than patients with lower PKCalpha mRNA expression (P<0.01).

CONCLUSIONS:

Our results suggested that the PKCalpha may be a prognostic factor for the survival of patients with HCC.

• Authors: Trang-Tiau Wu, Yi-Hsien Hsieh, Cheng-Chung Wu, Yih-Shou Hsieh, Chih-Yang Huang, Jer-Yuh Liu
• Journal: Clinica chimica acta; international journal of clinical chemistry (Clin Chim Acta) Vol. 382 Issue 1-2 Pg. 54-8 (Jul 2007) ISSN: 0009-8981 [Print] Netherlands
• PMID: 17459358 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)

Chemical References

• Biomarkers
• Isoenzymes
• RNA, Messenger
• Protein Kinase C
• Protein Kinase C-alpha
• Protein Kinase C-delta
• protein kinase C lambda

Topics

• Adolescent
• Adult
• Aged
• Biomarkers
• Carcinoma, Hepatocellular (diagnosis, enzymology)
• Female
• Humans
• Isoenzymes (genetics, metabolism)
• Liver Neoplasms (diagnosis, enzymology)
• Male
• Middle Aged
• Prognosis
• Protein Kinase C (genetics, metabolism)
• Protein Kinase C-alpha (genetics, metabolism)
• Protein Kinase C-delta (genetics, metabolism)
• RNA, Messenger (metabolism)