The correlation of fibrinogen-like protein-1 expression with the progression and prognosis of hepatocellular carcinoma

Fibrinogen-like protein-1 (FGL1), as the member of FREP superfamily, had been widely concerned as a major immune inhibitory ligand of LAG-3. Although FGL1 expression levels didn’t have significant difference in most of tumors via online data analysis, we found that it was down-regulated in liver cancer. Moreover, the correlation between FGL1 expression and the progression and prognosis of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) was still disputed. In our study, firstly, we used bioinformatics analysis to define the expression profile and clinical significance of FGL1 in HCC. Then, we determined the FGL1 level in 9 human HCC cell lines and 11 pairs of tumor and normal liver tissues from HCC patients by western blot. Furthermore, tissue microassays were used to detect the expression of FGL1 through immunohistochemistry staining and verify whether FGL1 expression levels were associated with clinicopathological features of HCC patients or not. The results of the experiment proved that FGL1 was down-regulated significantly in HCC cell lines and HCC tissues, corresponding with the results of our bioinformatics analysis. FGL1 expression levels in HCC were related to Edmondson grade and metastasis. Additionally, high FGL1 expression was related to better overall survival in HCC patients, indicating that the down-regulated FGL1 was correlated with poor prognosis and FGL1 might function as a tumor suppressor. Taken together, expression levels of FGL1 may correlate with the progression and prognosis of HCC, and FGL1 could be a potential prognostic biomarker.

The correlation of fibrinogen-like protein-1 expression with the progression and prognosis of hepatocellular carcinoma

Background ConclusionsFibrinogen-like protein-1 (FGL1), as the member of FREP superfamily, had been widely concerned as a major immune inhibitory ligand of LAG-3. Although FGL1 expression levels didn’t have significant difference in most of tumors via online data analysis, we found that it was down-regulated in liver cancer. Moreover, the correlation between FGL1 expression and the progression and prognosis of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) was still disputed. Methods In our study, firstly, we used bioinformatics analysis to define the expression profile and clinical significance of FGL1 in HCC. Then, we determined the FGL1 level in human HCC cell lines, tumor and normal liver tissues from HCC patients by western blot. Furthermore, tissue microassays were used to detect the expression of FGL1 through immunohistochemistry staining and verify whether FGL1 expression levels were associated with clinicopathological features of HCC patients. Results The results proved that FGL1 was down-regulated significantly in HCC cell lines and HCC tissues, corresponding with the results of our bioinformatics analysis. FGL1 expression levels in HCC were related to Edmondson grade and metastasis. Additionally, high FGL1 expression was related to better overall survival in HCC patients, indicating that the down-regulated FGL1 was correlated with poor prognosis and FGL1 might function as a tumor suppressor. Conclusions Taken together, expression levels of FGL1 may correlate with the progression and prognosis of HCC, and FGL1 could be a potential prognostic biomarker.

Hepatobiliary phase signal intensity: A potential method of diagnosing HCC with atypical imaging features among LR-M observations

Herein, we assessed whether hepatobiliary phase (HBP) signal intensity (SI) can be used to differentiate HCC and non-HCC malignancies within LR-M observations. 106 LR-M patients based on LI-RADS v2018 who underwent gadoxetate-disodium magnetic resonance imaging and surgery from January 2009 to December 2018 were included. SI of LR-M observation on HBP was analyzed by two radiologists and categorized into dark, low and iso-to-high groups. Tumor was classified as dark when more than 50% of tumor showed hypointensity compared to spleen, as low when more than 50% of tumor showed hyperintensity compared to spleen but hypointensity compared to liver parenchyma, and as iso-to-high if there was even a focal iso-intensity or hyperintensity compared to liver parenchyma. Analysis of clinicopathological factors and association between imaging and histology was performed. Out of 106 LR-M, 42 (40%) were showed dark, 61 (58%) showed low, and 3 (3%) showed iso-to-high SI in HBP. Three iso-to-high SI LR-M were HCCs (P = 0.060) and their major histologic differentiation was Edmondson grade 1 (P = 0.001). 43 out of 61 (71%) low SI LR-M were iCCA or cHCC-CCA (P = 0.002). Inter-reader agreement of HBP SI classification was excellent, with a kappa coefficient of 0.872. LR-M with iso-to-high SI in HBP is prone to being HCC while LR-M with low SI in HBP is prone to being tumor with fibrous stroma such as iCCA and cHCC-CCA. Classification of LR-M based on HBP SI may be a helpful method of differentiating HCC from non-HCC malignancies.

miR-940 Suppresses Tumor Cell Invasion and Migration via Regulation of CXCR2 in Hepatocellular Carcinoma

Aim. To investigate the expression of miR-940 in the hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and its impact on function and biological mechanism in the HCC cells.Methods. Quantitative RT-PCR analysis was used to quantify miR-940 expression in 46 cases of tissues and cells. Transfection of HCC cell lines was performed by miR-940 mimics; the abilities of invasion and migration were assessed through Transwell array. Western blot represents the alteration in expression of CXCR2 by miR-940 mimics.Results. miR-940 expression was decreased significantly in the HCC tissues and the relevant cell lines. miR-940 upregulation suppressed the invasion and migration of HCC cells in vitro. Furthermore, the CXCR2 was downregulated to suppress invasion and migration after miR-940 mimics. Moreover, decreased miR-940 expression was negatively correlated with Edmondson grade (P=0.008), tumor microsatellite or multiple tumors (P=0.04), vascular invasion (P=0.035), and recurrence and metastasis (P=0.038). Kaplan-Meier analysis demonstrated that decreased miR-940 expression contributed to poor overall survival (P<0.05).Conclusions. Our findings present that miR-940 acts as a pivotal adaptor of CXCR2 and its transcription downregulated CXCR2 expression to decrease HCC invasion and migration in vitro. Our study suggests that miR-940 may be a novel poor prognostic biomarker for HCC.