Zhiyong Shi1, Jie Liu2, Xiaohe Yu3, Jian Huang3, Shuqun Shen3, Yongshun Zhang4, Rongli Han5, Naijian Ge6, Yefa Yang7. 1. Department of Radioactive Intervention, Eastern Hepatobiliary Surgery Hospital, Second Military Medical University, Shanghai, China. shizhiyong119@163.com. 2. Department of Intensive Care Unit, Renmin Hospital, Hubei University of Medicine, Shiyan, Hubei, China. 3. Department of Radioactive Intervention, Eastern Hepatobiliary Surgery Hospital, Second Military Medical University, Shanghai, China. 4. Department of Digestion, Renmin Hospital, Hubei University of Medicine, Shiyan, Hubei, China. 5. Department of Cardiology, Dahua Hospital, Shanghai, China. 6. Department of Radioactive Intervention, Eastern Hepatobiliary Surgery Hospital, Second Military Medical University, Shanghai, China. gelarge@163.com. 7. Department of Radioactive Intervention, Eastern Hepatobiliary Surgery Hospital, Second Military Medical University, Shanghai, China. yangyefa55@163.com.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: FOXF2 is a member of the forkhead box (FOX) family of transcription factors. FOXF2 plays an important role in several tumors but its expression and role in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) remains unknown. METHODS: Using immunohistochemistry, western blot, and real-time polymerase chain reaction, we analyzed FOXF2 expression in 295 clinicopathologically characterized HCC cases. Using RNA interference (RNAi), we investigated the effects of FOXF2 depletion on tumor cell behavior in vitro. Statistical analyses were used to determine associations between FOXF2 levels, tumor features, and patient outcomes. RESULTS: FOXF2 downregulation was observed in HCC tissues (p < 0.001) compared with peritumorous tissues, and its expression levels were closely correlated with overall survival and recurrence-free survival (p = 0.023 and 0.006, respectively) in patients with HCC. RNAi-mediated silencing of the FOXF2 gene in the MHCC-97H cell line significantly promoted proliferation and anti-apoptosis. CONCLUSIONS: The results of the present study indicate that FOXF2 may serve as a prognostic biomarker for HCC and may be a promising target in the treatment of patients with HCC.
BACKGROUND:FOXF2 is a member of the forkhead box (FOX) family of transcription factors. FOXF2 plays an important role in several tumors but its expression and role in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) remains unknown. METHODS: Using immunohistochemistry, western blot, and real-time polymerase chain reaction, we analyzed FOXF2 expression in 295 clinicopathologically characterized HCC cases. Using RNA interference (RNAi), we investigated the effects of FOXF2 depletion on tumor cell behavior in vitro. Statistical analyses were used to determine associations between FOXF2 levels, tumor features, and patient outcomes. RESULTS:FOXF2 downregulation was observed in HCC tissues (p < 0.001) compared with peritumorous tissues, and its expression levels were closely correlated with overall survival and recurrence-free survival (p = 0.023 and 0.006, respectively) in patients with HCC. RNAi-mediated silencing of the FOXF2 gene in the MHCC-97H cell line significantly promoted proliferation and anti-apoptosis. CONCLUSIONS: The results of the present study indicate that FOXF2 may serve as a prognostic biomarker for HCC and may be a promising target in the treatment of patients with HCC.