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Prognostic relevance of miR‐137 in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma
Author(s) -
Sakabe Tomohiko,
Azumi Junya,
Umekita Yoshihisa,
Toriguchi Kan,
Hatano Etsuro,
Hirooka Yasuaki,
Shiota Goshi
Publication year - 2017
Publication title -
liver international
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.873
H-Index - 110
eISSN - 1478-3231
pISSN - 1478-3223
DOI - 10.1111/liv.13213
Subject(s) - hepatocellular carcinoma , medicine , oncology , relevance (law) , gastroenterology , political science , law
Background & Aims Cancer stem cells ( CSC s) play a pivotal role in progression, metastasis and recurrence of cancer. Therefore, it is clinically useful to identify the relevant CSC marker that is associated with prognosis of hepatocellular carcinoma ( HCC ) and clarify its genetic and biological characteristics. Methods Expression of four CSC markers, CD 13, Ep CAM , CD 44 and CD 44v9, was examined in 99 HCC patients. Biological and cDNA /mi RNA microarray data were compared among CD 44‐positive/‐negative HCC cells and normal hepatic cells. The significance of the representative mi RNA s was examined with regard to prognosis of additional 110 HCC patients. Results CD 44‐positive HuH7 cells proliferated faster and showed a greater sphere forming ability than CD 44‐negative HuH7 cells. CD 44‐positive HuH7 cells exhibited higher expression of specific genes involved in resistance to reactive oxygen species, anticancer drugs and tumour invasion than CD 44‐negative HCC cells. Higher expression of six mi RNA s was observed in CD 44‐positive HuH7 cells, CD 44‐negative HuH7 cells, and human normal hepatic cells in that order. Of the six mi RNA s, miR‐137 was closely associated with overall and cancer‐specific survivals, as well as with invasion of hepatic vein, hepatic artery, portal vein and bile duct, and alpha‐foetoprotein in additional 110 HCC patients. Conclusions miR‐137 may serve as a prognostic marker in patients with HCC and may be a potential target for the elimination of liver CSC s.