Xin yixue (Oct 2022)

Expression levels of Cx32 and Src/FAK signaling pathway in hepatocellular carcinoma tissues and their association with prognosis of patients after hepatectomy

  • Yu Meiling, Ma Xiang, Dong Shuying, Tong Xuhui

DOI
https://doi.org/10.3969/j.issn.0253-9802.2022.10.011
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 53, no. 10
pp. 761 – 766

Abstract

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Objective To determine the protein expression levels of Connexin32 （Cx32）, phosphorylated-Src （p-Src） Y416, total Src, phosphorylated-FAK （p-FAK） Y925 and total FAK in the hepatocellular carcinoma （HCC） tissues, and to evaluate the effect of these proteins on prognosis of HCC patients after hepatectomy. Methods HCC and corresponding paracancerous tissues of patients who underwent radical operation from January 2014 to December 2014 were collected. The protein expression levels of Cx32, p-Src Y416, total Src, p-FAK Y925 and total FAK were measured by immunohistochemistry. Postoperatively, HCC patients were followed up for 5 years. Univarivate and multivariate Cox’s regression analyses were employed to identify the influencing factors of postoperative mortality, and kaplan-Meier curve was delineated to evaluate the survival rate. Results Immunohistochemistry showed that the positive protein expression rate of Cx32 in the HCC tissues was significantly lower, whereas the positive protein expression rates of p-Src Y416, total Src, p-FAK Y925 and total FAK were significantly higher compared with those in the corresponding paracancerous tissues （all P < 0.05）. Univarivate Cox’s regression analysis indicated that age, degree of tumor differentiation, tumor diameter, Cx32, p-Src Y416, total Src, p-FAK Y925 and total FAK were eight suspected influencing factors of postoperative mortality of HCC patients （all P < 0.05）. Multivariate Cox’s regression analysis and survival analysis showed that Cx32 protein expression could be an independent protective factor of postoperative mortality for HCC patients, whereas high protein expression levels of p-Src Y416 and p-FAK Y925 were the independent risk factors （all P < 0.05）. Conclusion Cx32 expression reduces the mortality risk of HCC patients after radical operation, while high expression levels of p-Src Y416 and p-FAK Y925 enhance postoperative mortality risk.

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