Background:
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is one of the most frequent and fatal cancers worldwide. Reprogramming of cholesterol metabolism including increased cholesterol esterification, enhanced cholesterol synthesis and uptake, and activated cholesterol trafficking have been linked to the progression of different types of cancer. This study aimed to evaluate Immunohistochemical expression of STARD3, APOC1, SREBP2 in HCV- associated HCC and adjacent non-tumorous tissue and their correlation with other prognostic factors.
Material and methods:
This retrospective immunohistochemical study of STARD3, APOC1, SREBP2 were carried upon 55 cases of selected HCV- associated HCC and adjacent non-tumorous tissue.
Results
STARD3, APOC1, SREBP2 expression showed a highly significant correlation between HCV - induced HCC and adjacent non tumorous tissue. (P < 0.001). High STARD3 and SREBP2 expressions showed high statistically significant correlation (P < 0.001) with high tumor grade, TNM stage and BCLC staging. High STARD3 expression showed statistically significant correlation (P < 0.05) with tumor multiplicity and portal vein invasion. APOC1 high expression showed high statistically significant correlation (P < 0.001) with TNM stage and BCLC staging. APOC1 high expression showed statistically significant correlation (P < 0.05) with high tumor grade, tumor size and portal vein invasion. High SREBP2 expression showed statistically significant correlation (P < 0.05) with tumor size, portal vein invasion and multiplicity. There was highly statistically significant correlation (P < 0.001) with APOC1, STARD2 and SREBP2.
Conclusion
STARD3, APOC1, and SREBP2 expression levels were significantly elevated in hepatocellular cancer. Their strong expression was associated with negative prognostic indicators such as high grade and advanced stage.