BLZF1 expression is of prognostic significance in hepatocellular carcinoma

• Published in: Biochemical and biophysical research communications 2015-11, Vol.467 (3), p.602-609
• Main Authors: Huang, Run-Yue, Su, Shu-Guang, Wu, Dan-Chun, Fu, Jia, Zeng, Xing
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: 60 APPLIED LIFE SCIENCES; ANIMAL TISSUES; Basic Helix-Loop-Helix Leucine Zipper Transcription Factors - metabolism; BIOLOGICAL MARKERS; Biomarkers, Tumor - metabolism; BLZF1; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular - metabolism; CYTOPLASM; Female; Hepatocellular carcinoma; HEPATOMAS; Humans; Immunohistochemistry; Liver Neoplasms - metabolism; Male; MESSENGER-RNA; Middle Aged; Nuclear Proteins - metabolism; PATIENTS; Prognosis; PROTEINS; REGRESSION ANALYSIS
• ISSN: 0006-291X; 1090-2104
• DOI: 10.1016/j.bbrc.2015.08.119

BLZF1, a member of b-ZIP family, has been implicated in epigenetic regulation and Wnt/β-catenin signaling. Its expression and clinical significance in human cancers remain largely unknown. In this study, we showed that BLZF1 expression was reduced in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) tissues, compared to the paracarcinoma tissues, at both mRNA and protein levels. Results of immunohistochemistry revealed that BLZF1 was presented in both nuclear and cytoplasm. Decreased expression of nuclear and cytosolic BLZF1 in HCC was depicted in 68.2% and 79.2% of the 634 cases. Nuclear BLZF1 expression was significantly associated with tumor multiplicity (P = 0.048) and tumor capsule (P = 0.028), while cytosolic BLZF1 expression was correlated with serum AFP level (P = 0.017), tumor differentiation (P = 0.001) and tumor capsule (P = 0.003). Kaplan–Meier analysis indicated both nuclear and cytosolic BLZF1 expression was associated with poor overall survival. Low nuclear BLZF1 also indicated unfavorable disease-free survival and high tendency of tumor recurrence. Furthermore, multiple Cox regression analysis revealed nuclear BLZF1 as an independent factor for overall survival (Hazard Ratio (HR) = 0.827, 95% confident interval (95%CI): 0.697–0.980, P = 0.029). The prognostic value of BLZF1 was further confirmed by stratified analyses. Collectively, our data suggest BLZF1 is a novel unfavorable biomarker for prognosis of patients with HCC. •BLZF1 expression was much lower in HCC tissues.•Low BLZF1 expression was associated with poor outcomes in a cohort of 634 HCC patients.•Multiple Cox regression analysis indicated nuclear BLZF1 as an independent predictor for overall survival.