Hepatocellular carcinoma with progenitor cell features distinguishable by the hepatic stem/progenitor cell marker NCAM.

Abstract

We analyzed hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) with progenitor cell features using hepatic stem/progenitor cell marker neural cell adhesion molecule (NCAM). Approximately 8.3% of the operated HCC cases expressed NCAM, and 22.3% of the HCC patients had soluble NCAM levels >1000ng/ml (the "highly soluble" NCAM group). Soluble NCAM status was a significant independent factor predictive of long-term survival in patients with HCC, and high levels of soluble NCAM were significantly related to intrahepatic metastasis. The 140-kDa NCAM isoform was specifically detected in the "highly soluble" NCAM group of HCC patients andits related signals are potential drug targets for NCAM+ HCC.

• Authors: Atsunori Tsuchiya, Hiroteru Kamimura, Yasushi Tamura, Masaaki Takamura, Satoshi Yamagiwa, Takeshi Suda, Minoru Nomoto, Yutaka Aoyagi
• Journal: Cancer letters (Cancer Lett) Vol. 309 Issue 1 Pg. 95-103 (Oct 01 2011) ISSN: 1872-7980 [Electronic] Ireland
• PMID: 21669487 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)
• Copyright: Copyright © 2011 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.

Chemical References

• Biomarkers, Tumor
• Neural Cell Adhesion Molecules
• Protein Isoforms

Topics

• Aged
• Biomarkers, Tumor (biosynthesis)
• Carcinoma, Hepatocellular (metabolism, pathology)
• Female
• Humans
• Liver (pathology)
• Liver Neoplasms (metabolism, pathology)
• Male
• Middle Aged
• Neoplasm Metastasis
• Neoplastic Stem Cells (metabolism, pathology)
• Neural Cell Adhesion Molecules (biosynthesis, blood)
• Predictive Value of Tests
• Prognosis
• Protein Isoforms (metabolism)
• Stem Cells (metabolism, pathology)