Close Relationship Between Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition And Lung Metastasis In Hepatocellular Carcinoma

Purpose:To evaluate the relationship between epithelial mesenchymal transition(EMT) and lung metastasis in hepatocellular carcinoma.Methods: there were 100 patients who underwent surgical resection of hepatocellular carcinoma between 2000 to 2004 in Liver Cancer Institute, Zhongshan Hospital,Fudan University.They were classified with non-distance metastasis and lung metastasis depend on the close following up till March 2007.Their hepatocellular carcinoma specimens were retrospectively examined for EMT markers(E-cadherin,Vimentin,Fibronectin) with immunochemistry staining in tissue microarray. Univariate and multivariate analysis were used for study the relationship between EMT and lung metastasis.Results:Univariate analysis showed that down regulation of E-cadherin,cytosolic expression of vimentin,AFP≥4OOng/ml,tumor size more than 10cm,portal vein involvement,poorly differentiated of tumor had close correlation with lung metastasis. Multivariate analysis indicated that of down regulation of E-cadherin was independent factor for lung metastasis apart from tumor size more than 10cm,portal vein involvement and poorly differentiated of tumor.Conclusion:The results proposed that EMT has close relation with lung metastasis in hepatocellular carcinoma...