The Expression Of CD44with The Recurrence And Metastasis In Hepatocellular Carcinoma

Objective:To detect the situation of expression of cell adhesion molecules (CAM) CD44in human hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). And investigate the role of expression in HCC invasion, metastasis and prognosis.Methods:Immunohistochemical staining of CAM CD44was performed in89HCC specimens and corresponding adjacent tissues. The value of CD44in predicting the invasion and metastasis was evaluated according to clinical data. The Log-Rank test and Cox proportional hazards model were used to identify factors that were associated with the prognosis. Then, Logistic regression analysis were performed to determine the prognostic and recurrence risk factors.Results:1. The expression-positive of CD44in HCC, noncancerous adjacent liver tissues and normal liver tissue were78.7%,30.3%and10%, respectively.(P<0.001) That is to say, the expression of CD44in HCC was significantly higher than the other two.2. The correlation of CD44expression and clinicalpathological characteristics: Further analysis of CD44expression and clinicopathological features of the patients revealed a negative association of its expression with sex, age, HBsAg, AFP, preoperative Child-Pugh classification (P>0.05), however, CD44expression correlated significantly and directly with tumor size, tumor capsular, vessel invasion, tumor thrombosis and recurrence within postoperative1year, inversely with disease-free survival (P<0.05).3. Kaplan-Meier analysis demonstrated that tumor size, tumor capsular, vessel invasion, tumor thrombosis and expression of CD44were significant factors influencing the disease free survival of HCC patients (P<0.05). COX regression showed tumor size, vessel invasion, number of tumors were significant risk factors influencing the disease-free survival of HCC (P<0.05). Logistic regression indicated that number of tumors, tumor vascular invasion and CD44expression were risk factors of tumor metastasis and recurrence (P<0.05). Conclusion:1. CD44was expressed in HCC, noncancerous adjacent liver tissues and normal liver tissue at different levels, and the level in HCC was significantly higher, which indicates the key effects of CD44in HCC.2. CD44expression in HCC is an independent risk factor to predict recurrence and disease free survival after radical surgery, which indicates that CD44may be used as a prognostic indicator, even as a new target for cancer treatment.