Jiang LH, Hao YL, Zhu JW. Expression and prognostic value of HER-2/neu, STAT3 and SOCS3 in hepatocellular carcinoma.
Clin Res Hepatol Gastroenterol 2019;
43:282-291. [PMID:
30385249 DOI:
10.1016/j.clinre.2018.09.011]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/26/2018] [Revised: 09/18/2018] [Accepted: 09/28/2018] [Indexed: 02/04/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND AIMS
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a complex and heterogeneous tumor with several genomic alterations, while the viral-chemical etiology along with molecular mechanisms of HCC pathogenesis remains largely unknown. This study aimed to determine expression profile and prognostic value of HER-2/neu, STAT3 and SOCS3 in HCC.
METHODS
Immunohistochemistry and reverse transcription-quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) were performed to evaluate the expression of HER-2/neu, STAT3 and SOCS3 in HCC tissues and adjacent normal tissues collected from 176 HCC patients.
RESULTS
HER-2/neu and STAT3 levels were higher and SOCS3 expression was lower in HCC tissues than in adjacent normal tissues. HER-2/neu, STAT3 and SOCS3 levels were associated with histological grade, tumor diameter, TNM stage, vascular invasion, lymph node metastasis and distant metastasis in HCC. SOCS3 expression was negatively associated with HER-2/neu and STAT3 expression. HCC patients with higher HER-2/neu and STAT3 levels had shorter overall, disease-free and disease-specific survival, whereas the opposite was found in patients with higher SOCS3 expression. In Cox regression analysis, tumor size, TNM stage, and STAT3 expression were identified as independent prognostic factors of HCC.
CONCLUSION
Taken together, these observations suggest that HER-2/neu, STAT3 and, SOCS3 are related to the aggressive tumor behavior and STAT3 has potential value as a prognostic factor for HCC.
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