M Yao1, X Zhou, X Zha. 1. Liver Cancer Institute, Zhong Shan Hospital, Shanghai Medical University.
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: To elucidate the roles of integrins in tumorigenesis, progression, differentiation, invasiveness and metastasis, and the role of the integrin alpha 5 subunit in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). METHODS: 79 formalin-fixed sections of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) were obtained. The integrin alpha 5 subunit was measured by immunohistochemistry assay (ABC method). RESULTS: In 79 cases of HCC, cancerous tissues had lower expression than their adjacent non-tumor tissues (32.9% vs 81.0%, P < 0.01). The alpha 5 positive rate in small HCC (= < 5 cm in diameter) was higher than large HCC > 10 cm in diameter), being 55.6% and 10.0% respectively. Well-differentiated HCC expressed higher alpha 5 than poorly differentiated ones. The alpha 5 positive rates were lower in highly invasive HCC than those to low invasive ones. CONCLUSION: Our study indicated that expression of the integrin alpha 5 subunit is correlated with growth, differentiation, invasiveness and metastasis of HCC. It is possible that alpha 5 subunit is a negative regulator to these biological parameters of HCC.
OBJECTIVE: To elucidate the roles of integrins in tumorigenesis, progression, differentiation, invasiveness and metastasis, and the role of the integrin alpha 5 subunit in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). METHODS: 79 formalin-fixed sections of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) were obtained. The integrin alpha 5 subunit was measured by immunohistochemistry assay (ABC method). RESULTS: In 79 cases of HCC, cancerous tissues had lower expression than their adjacent non-tumor tissues (32.9% vs 81.0%, P < 0.01). The alpha 5 positive rate in small HCC (= < 5 cm in diameter) was higher than large HCC > 10 cm in diameter), being 55.6% and 10.0% respectively. Well-differentiated HCC expressed higher alpha 5 than poorly differentiated ones. The alpha 5 positive rates were lower in highly invasive HCC than those to low invasive ones. CONCLUSION: Our study indicated that expression of the integrin alpha 5 subunit is correlated with growth, differentiation, invasiveness and metastasis of HCC. It is possible that alpha 5 subunit is a negative regulator to these biological parameters of HCC.