Expression of connective tissue growth factor and interleukin-11 in intratumoral tissue is associated with poor survival after curative resection of hepatocellular carcinoma

Mol Biol Rep. 2012 May;39(5):6001-6. doi: 10.1007/s11033-011-1413-y. Epub 2011 Dec 29.

Abstract

In the present study, we evaluated the prognostic value of intratumoral and peritumoral expression of connective tissue growth factor (CTGF), transforming growth factor-beta 1 (TGF-β1), and interleukin-11 (IL-11) in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) after curative resection. Expression of CTGF, TGF-β1, and IL-11 was assessed by immunohistochemical staining of tissue microarrays containing paired tumor and peritumoral liver tissue from 290 patients who had undergone hepatectomy for histologically proven HCC. The prognostic value of these and other clinicopathologic factors were evaluated. The median follow-up time was 54.3 months (range, 4.3-118.3 months). High intratumoral CTGF expression was associated with vascular invasion (P = 0.015), intratumoral IL-11 expression correlated with higher tumor node metastasis (TNM) stage (P = 0.009), and peritumoral CTGF overexpression correlated with lack of tumor encapsulation (P = 0.031). Correlation analysis of these proteins revealed that intratumoral CTGF and IL-11 correlated with high intratumoral TGF-β1 expression (r = 0.325, P < 0.001; and r = 0.273, P < 0.001, respectively). TNM stage (P < 0.001), high intratumoral CTGF levels (P = 0.010), and intratumoral IL-11 expression (P = 0.015) were independent prognostic factors for progression-free survival (PFS). Vascular invasion (P = 0.032), TNM stage (P < 0.001), high intratumoral CTGF levels (P = 0.036), and intratumoral IL-11 expression (P = 0.013) were independent prognostic factors for overall survival (OS). High intratumoral CTGF and intratumoral IL-11 expression were associated with PFS and OS after hepatectomy, and the combination of intratumoral CTGF with IL-11 may be predictive of survival.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Biomarkers, Tumor / metabolism
  • Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / metabolism*
  • Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / pathology
  • Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / surgery*
  • Connective Tissue Growth Factor / metabolism*
  • Humans
  • Immunohistochemistry
  • Interleukin-11 / metabolism*
  • Kaplan-Meier Estimate
  • Liver Neoplasms / metabolism*
  • Liver Neoplasms / pathology
  • Liver Neoplasms / surgery*
  • Prognosis
  • Tissue Array Analysis

Substances

  • Biomarkers, Tumor
  • CCN2 protein, human
  • IL11 protein, human
  • Interleukin-11
  • Connective Tissue Growth Factor