Reduced transforming growth factor-beta receptor II expression in hepatocellular carcinoma correlates with intrahepatic metastasis.

Abstract

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) occurs mainly in the liver associated with chronic hepatitis and hepatic cirrhosis as a result of prolonged viral infection. Transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-beta) induces the fibrosis in hepatic cirrhosis, although it is also an inhibitor of hepatocyte proliferation. To understand the role of TGF-beta signaling in HCC progression, we analyzed gene expression in HCC cells in relation to TGF-beta signaling using a two-way clustering algorithm. By the analysis, five HCC cell lines were classified into two groups according to their metastatic capacity. TGF-beta receptor II (TGFBR2) was downregulated in metastatic cells, which did not show a response to TGF-beta. Immunohistochemistry demonstrated clear membrane distribution of TGFBR2 in noncancerous hepatocytes, whereas reduced TGFBR2 expression was observed in 34 of 136 HCCs. In clinical cases, reduced TGFBR2 expression correlated with larger tumor size (P<0.001), poor differentiation (P<0.001), portal vein invasion (P=0.002), intrahepatic metastasis (IM) (P<0.001), and shorter recurrence-free survival (P=0.022). In conclusion, reduced TGFBR2 expression was associated with aggressive features of HCC such as IM, and may represent an immunohistochemical biomarker to detect aggressive HCC.

• Authors: Takao Mamiya, Ken Yamazaki, Yohei Masugi, Taisuke Mori, Kathryn Effendi, Wenlin Du, Taizo Hibi, Minoru Tanabe, Masakazu Ueda, Tadatoshi Takayama, Michiie Sakamoto
• Journal: Laboratory investigation; a journal of technical methods and pathology (Lab Invest) Vol. 90 Issue 9 Pg. 1339-45 (Sep 2010) ISSN: 1530-0307 [Electronic] United States
• PMID: 20531292 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)

Chemical References

• Receptors, Transforming Growth Factor beta
• Transforming Growth Factor beta
• Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases
• Receptor, Transforming Growth Factor-beta Type II

Topics

• Aged
• Carcinoma, Hepatocellular (genetics, metabolism, pathology)
• Down-Regulation
• Female
• Hepatitis, Chronic (complications, genetics, metabolism)
• Hepatocytes (metabolism, pathology)
• Humans
• Immunohistochemistry
• Liver (metabolism, pathology)
• Liver Cirrhosis (complications, genetics, pathology)
• Liver Neoplasms (genetics, metabolism, pathology)
• Male
• Middle Aged
• Neoplasms (complications, genetics, metabolism)
• Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases
• Receptor, Transforming Growth Factor-beta Type II
• Receptors, Transforming Growth Factor beta (metabolism)
• Signal Transduction (genetics)
• Transforming Growth Factor beta (genetics, metabolism, physiology)