Hepatocellular carcinoma with progenitor cell features distinguishable by the hepatic stem/progenitor cell marker NCAM

Cancer Lett. 2011 Oct 1;309(1):95-103. doi: 10.1016/j.canlet.2011.05.021. Epub 2011 Jun 12.

Abstract

We analyzed hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) with progenitor cell features using hepatic stem/progenitor cell marker neural cell adhesion molecule (NCAM). Approximately 8.3% of the operated HCC cases expressed NCAM, and 22.3% of the HCC patients had soluble NCAM levels >1000ng/ml (the "highly soluble" NCAM group). Soluble NCAM status was a significant independent factor predictive of long-term survival in patients with HCC, and high levels of soluble NCAM were significantly related to intrahepatic metastasis. The 140-kDa NCAM isoform was specifically detected in the "highly soluble" NCAM group of HCC patients andits related signals are potential drug targets for NCAM+ HCC.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Biomarkers, Tumor / biosynthesis
  • Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / metabolism
  • Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / pathology*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Liver / pathology
  • Liver Neoplasms / metabolism
  • Liver Neoplasms / pathology*
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Neoplasm Metastasis
  • Neoplastic Stem Cells / metabolism
  • Neoplastic Stem Cells / pathology
  • Neural Cell Adhesion Molecules / biosynthesis*
  • Neural Cell Adhesion Molecules / blood
  • Predictive Value of Tests
  • Prognosis
  • Protein Isoforms / metabolism
  • Stem Cells / metabolism
  • Stem Cells / pathology

Substances

  • Biomarkers, Tumor
  • Neural Cell Adhesion Molecules
  • Protein Isoforms