Abstract:Objective To investigate the expression of MRP1/CD9 protein in human hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC),and its relationship to carcinoma invasion and metastasis.
Methods The specimens of tissue microarray from 152 primary hepatocellular carcinomas with paracancerous liver tissue, 22 tumor emboli,4 intrahepatic satellite metastases, 17 extrahepatic metastases ,and 5 normal livers, respectively, were constructed and used for detection of MRP1/CD9 expression by immunohistochemistry.
Results Immunohistochemical analysis of tissue microarrays demonstrated MRP1/CD9 protein expression in 27.0%(41/152)of the primary HCCs. The expression of MRP1/CD9 protein was higher in HCCs without cancer thrombi than in those with cancer thrombi (40.48%vs21.82%，P<0.05). MRP1/CD9 protein expression was also inversely correlated with the tumor size (≤10cm vs >10cm, P<0.01), pathological grade (P=0.043), and the serum level of AFP (≤20μg/L vs >20μg/L, P=0.029). Conclusions Loss of MRP1/CD9 protein expression may be associated with invasion and metastases of hepatocellular carcinoma.