[Study on correlation of JAK/STAT signal pathway with progression and prognosis in hepatocellular carcinoma].

AIM:To investigate the expression of JAK/STAT signal pathway in human hepatocellular carcinoma,and to evaluate its clinical significance in the progression and prognosis in hepatocellular carcinoma. METHODS:196 patients with hepatocellular carcinoma were examined for the expression of JAK-1 protein and STAT-3 protein by SABC immunohistochemistry. RESULTS:The positive expression rates of JAK-1 protein and STAT-3 protein in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma were significantly higher than those in 20 cases of normal liver tissue (P=0.02 and 0.01,respectively). There was no significant relation between the positive expression rates of JAK-1 protein and STAT-3 protein and patients' sex,age,tumor size,and cirrhosis of the hepatocellular carcinoma tissues (all P0.05). The JAK-1 protein and STAT-3 protein were expressed more frequently in hepatocellular carcinoma tissues with incomplete capsule (P=0.01 and 0.008,respectively),venous tumor emboli (both P=0.02),poorly differentiated (P=0.01 and 0.009,respectively) or clinical III-IV stage (P=0.02 and 0.008,respectively) than in those with complete capsule,no venous tumor emboli,maturely differentiated or clinical I-II stage. Cox proportional hazard regression model analysis indicated that the expression of JAK-1 protein and STAT-3 protein was significantly correlated with the prognosis of patients with hepatocellular carcinoma. CONCLUSION:The results suggest that the over-expression of JAK/STAT signal pathway may be an important feature of hepatocellular carcinoma.