Expression of hnRNPK & Claudin-4 in HCV-Induced Early HCC and Adjacent Liver Tissue.

ABSTRACT: BACKGROUND:HCC in Egypt usually occurs in HCV cirrhotic livers with poor prognosis due to late diagnosis. High hnRNPK & low Claudin-4 profiles indicate Epithelial Mesenchymal Transition (EMT), malignant transformation and high-grade tumours. AIM:We studied the immunohistochemical expression of hnRNPK and Claudin-4 in HCV induced early HCC (eHCC) and adjacent liver tissue in Egyptian patients to improve eHCC detection in cirrhotic livers with better curative therapy options. METHOD:We studied the immunohistochemical expression of hnRNPK and Claudin-4 in 100 Egyptian patients resection specimens of HCV induced early HCC (eHCC) and adjacent liver tissue, in order to improve eHCC detection in cirrhotic livers, thus improving their therapeutic options. RESULTS:Early HCC grade significantly directly correlated with nuclear hnRNPK/5HPFs count and inversely correlated with Claudin-4 expression %, with a converse correlation between hnRNPK and Claudin-4. Moreover in eHCC, combined hnRNPK ? 30/5HPFs & Claudin-4 ? 40% significantly distinguished low grade eHCC (G1) from high grade eHCC (G2&G3), with sensitivity 97% & specificity 69.7% for hnRNPK ? 30/5HPFs, and with sensitivity 70% & specificity 94.3% for Claudin-4 ? 40%. Moreover in the adjacent liver, both markers expressions significantly directly correlated with each other and with METAVIR fibrosis score but not with activity. Furthermore, 58% of eHCCs showed hnRNPK ? 30 Claudin-4 < 40% profile, indicating EMT type 3, compared to 26% with hnRNPK ? 30 Claudin-4 ? 10% profile in adjacent cirrhotic/ precirrhotic liver, with significant use of combined hnRNPK ? 30/5HPFs & Claudin 4 ? 10% as eHCC prediction cut offs in cirrhosis (p < 0.05). CONCLUSION:Combination of hnRNPK and Claudin-4 can indicate early HCC development in HCV cirrhotic livers using hnRNPK ? 30/5HPFs & Claudin-4 ? 10% cut offs. Also, combination of hnRNPK ? 30/5HPFs & Claudin-4 ? 40% can distinguish low grade eHCC (G1) from high grade eHCC (G2&G3).

SUBMITTER: Hammam O 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5591587 | biostudies-literature | 2017 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature