The role of F bxw7 expression in hepatocellular carcinoma and adjacent non‐tumor liver tissue

Background and Aim F bxw7 is a tumor suppressor gene through ubiquitination and degradation of multiple oncoproteins. Loss of F bxw7 expression is frequently observed in various human cancers. In the present study, we examined the role of F bxw7 expression in both non‐tumor liver tissues and tumor tissues on clinicopathological significance. Methods Sixty‐six patients with hepatocellular carcinoma ( HCC ), who underwent hepatectomy, were divided into two groups: high and low gene‐expression group, based on the F bxw7 expression level. We compared the clinicopathological factors between the high expression and low expression groups in both tumor and non‐tumor tissues. Results F bxw7 messenger RNA expression level in the non‐tumor tissues was significantly higher than that in the tumor tissues. In the analysis of F bxw7 expression in tumor and non‐tumor tissues, disease‐free survival rate in the F bxw7 high expression group was significantly higher than that in the low expression group. In multivariable analysis, F bxw7 low expression in both tumor and non‐tumor tissue was detected as the strongest independent risk factor for HCC recurrence. Conclusions Low F bxw7 expression in both tumor and non‐tumor tissue may be an independent prognostic factor for tumor recurrence after hepatectomy in patients with HCC .