Elevated expression of autocrine motility factor receptor correlates with overexpression of RhoC and indicates poor prognosis in hepatocellular carcinoma.

Our previous study identified RhoC as an invasion and metastasis marker in hepatocellular carcinoma patients. Recent document suggested RhoGTPase is required for autocrine motility factor signaling. In this study, we questioned whether there is a correlation between expression of autocrine motility factor receptor and RhoC. Furthermore, we questioned whether elevated expression of autocrine motility factor correlates with metastasis and poor prognosis of HCC. The mRNA expression level of AMFR and RhoC were examined by RT-PCR in 25 cases of HCC and pericarcinomatous liver tissues (PCLT). In addition, the correlation between the expression level of AMFR and clinical pathologic parameters was analyzed. Furthermore, follow-up information was collected to evaluate the prognostic value of AMFR for HCC patients. Our results showed that the expression of AMFR and RhoC significantly increased in HCC compared with PCLT; extrahepatic metastatic lesions expressed significantly higher levels of AMFR and RhoC than corresponding intrahepatic HCC tissues. There is a highly significant correlation of AMFR expression levels with tumor vein invasion, number of tumor nodes, and tumor stage. Anticipatively, positive correlation was observed between mRNA expression of AMFR and RhoC gene. Furthermore, the HCC patients with high-expression of AMFR had significant high recurrence/metastasis and shorter survival than those with low-expression of AMFR. Together, our findings suggested a strong correlation between the expression of AMFR and RhoC and also a correlation between overexpression of them and invasion and metastasis of HCC. Furthermore, our data indicated AMFR as a potential prognosis for HCC.