Objectives: To explore the effect of c-Myc, Ki-67, MMP-2 and VEGF expression on prognosis of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) patients who had tumor resection.
Methods: Primary HCC patients who underwent tumor resection were retrospectively analyzed. The maximum size of their mononodular tumors was less than 5 cm, and no intrahepatic arterial chemotherapy was performed before the resections. They were followed up after resection and the time of recurrence was recorded. They were divided into 2 groups: group A (15 cases): tumor recurred within 1 year after tumor resection; group B (15 cases): with tumor recurrence after 2 years or without it. Paraffin sections of the tumors were remade from their old blocks. Immunohistochemistry stainings were performed with c-Myc, Ki-67, MMP-2 and VEGF monoclonal antibodies. Staining intensity of the tumor and paracancer tissues was quantitatively analyzed.
Results: c-Myc, Ki-67, MMP-2 and VEGF expressing intensities in cancer tissues in group A were higher than those in group B, and their expressed intensities in paracancer tissue in group A and B were not significantly different.
Conclusion: The expressions of c-Myc, Ki-67, MMP-2 and VEGF in cancer tissues of the patients are related to the recurrence of their HCC after tumor resection.