目的 探讨波形蛋白(Vimentin)、E-钙黏蛋白(E-cadherin)在原发性肝癌(HCC)的表达及其临床意义.方法 采用免疫组织化学的方法(SP法)分别检测55例HCC癌组织、癌旁组织和20例非肿瘤性正常肝组织中Vimentin及E-cadherin的表达情况,分析它们与HCC临床病理学特征的关系及对患者预后的影响.结果 Vimentin在癌组织中阳性表达率为69.1%,较癌旁组织及正常肝组织表达明显升高,差异具有统计学意义(P<0.05).E-cadherin在癌组织中阳性表达率为27.3%,较癌旁组织及正常肝组织表达明显下降,差异具有统计学意义(P<0.05).Vimentin、E-cadherin二者表达呈负相关关系(r=-0.653,P<0.05).Vimentin在TNMⅢ~Ⅳ期组、低分化组、肿瘤结节多个组、转移复发组的表达分别高于TNM Ⅰ~Ⅱ期组(χ2=7.267,P<0.05)、中高分化组(χ2=4.045,P<0.05)、肿瘤结节单个组(χ2=12.143,P<0.05)、无转移复发组(χ2=7.267,P<0.05).E-cadherin的表达在肿瘤结节单个组高于肿瘤结节多个组,差异具有统计学意义(χ2=6.878,P<0.05).随访患者表明,Vimenfin阳性表达组患者无病生存率明显低于Vimentin阴性表达组,差异具有统计学意义(P<0.05).结论 Vimentin、E-cadherin参与HCC上皮间质转化过程,Vimentin的高表达、E-cadherin的低表达与HCC的发生、发展密切相关.检测HCC患者Vimentin及E-cadherin的表达水平可协助HCC的诊断及判断预后.
Objective To investigate the molecular expression and clinical significance of Vimentin and E-cadherin during epithelial-mesenchymal transformation of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) tissues.Methods Hepatocellular carcinoma and paracancerous tissue were collected from 55 patients,while nonneoplastic nonnal liver tissue were collected from 20 patients without cancerous diseases as control group.Expressions of Vimentin and E-cadherin were examined by immunohistochemistry staining.Clinicopathological features of the relative expression of Vimentin and E-cadherin,and its influence on prognosis were discussed as well.Results Vimentin was positively expressed in 69.1% cancer tissue,and was significantly higher than paracancerous tissues and normal liver tissues(P 〈 0.05).E-cadherin was positively expressed in 27.3% cancer tissue and was significantly lower compared with paracancerous tissues and normal liver tissues(P 〈0.05).The expression of Vimentin and E-cadherin was negatively correlated(r =-0.653,P 〈 0.05).Vimentin expressions in subgroups of TNM stage Ⅲ-Ⅳ,poor differentiation,multiple tumor nodules,metastasis and recurrence were all significantly higher than the respective subgroups as TNM stage Ⅰ-Ⅱ] (χ2 =7.267,P 〈 0.05),moderate to well differentiation (χ2 =4.045,P 〈 0.05),single tumor node (χ2=12.143,P 〈0.05),without metastasis or recurrence (χ2 =7.267,P 〈 0.05).On the contrary,Ecadherin showed higher expression in the subgroup of single tumor node compared with multiple tumor nodules(χ2 =6.878,P 〈 0.05).The follow-up of patients further demonstrated that patients with positive Vimentin expression had a significantly lower disease-free survival compared with the Vimentin negative group (P 〈0.05).Conclusions Vimentin and E-cadherin both participated in epithelial-mesenchymal transition process of hepatocellular carcinoma.High expression of Vimentin and low expression of E-cadherin were closely correlated with occurrence and development of HCC.