Autophagy-related gene LC3 expression in tumor and liver microenvironments significantly predicts recurrence of hepatocellular carcinoma after surgical resection.

ABSTRACT: BACKGROUND:The role of autophagy-related markers as the prognostic factor of post-operative hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) recurrence remained controversial. METHODS:Overall, 535 consecutive HCC patients undergoing curative resection from 2010 to 2014 were followed and classified with early (ER, <2 years) or late recurrence (LR). Autophagy-related markers, LC3, Beclin-1, and p62 expression was immunohistochemically assessed in HCC and adjacent non-tumor (ANT) tissues. RESULTS:HCC recurred in 245 patients: 116 with ER and 129 with LR. The cumulative incidence of recurrence at 1, 3, 5, and 7 years was 9.7%, 33.9%, 53.3%, and 66.3%, respectively. In multivariate analysis, HCC recurrence was significantly associated with low LC3 expression in tumor and ANT tissues, HCC tissues only and ANT tissues only (hazard ratio/95% confidence interval: 6.12/2.473-17.53, 4.18/1.285-13.61, and 1.89/1.299-2.757) and macrovascular invasion (1.63/1.043-2.492) and cirrhosis (1.59/1.088-2.326). ER was significantly associated with low LC3 expression in tumor and ANT tissues, HCC tissues only and ANT tissues only (6.54/2.934-15.81, 3.26/1.034-10.27, and 2.09/1.313-3.321) and macrovascular and microvascular invasion (2.65/1.306-5.343 and 2.55/1.177-5.504). LR was significantly associated with low LC3 expression in tumor and ANT tissues, HCC tissues only and ANT tissues only (5.02/1.372-18.83, 3.19/1.13-12.09, and 1.66/1.051-2.620) and cirrhosis (1.66/1.049-2.631). Patients with low and high LC3 expression in tumor and ANT tissues showed a 5-year cumulative recurrence of 94.3% and 41.7%, respectively (p?

SUBMITTER: Lin CW 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6026596 | biostudies-literature | 2018 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature