Expression of GPC3, MMP-9 and MMP-I4 in Hepatocellular Carcinoma and Their Influence on the Prognosis of Patients

Objective: To explore the expression of glypican-3 (GPC3), metal matrix proteinase (MMP)-9 and MMP-14 in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), and their influence on the prognosis of HCC patients. Methods: Totally 112 paraffin-embedded tissue samples of HCC patients were selected as observation group and 70 normal tissue samples were as control group. The expressions of GPC3, MMP-9 and NMP-14 of two groups were detected using immunohistochemistry assay. The positive rates of two groups were calculated. The relationship between the expression of GPC3, MMP-9 and MMP-14 and clinicopathological features, and their influence on the survival time of HCC patients were compared. Results: The positive expression rates of GPC3, MMP-9 and MMP-14 were higher in observation group that those in control group, the differences were statistically significant (P=0.0)0; P=0.000; P=0.000). The expression of GPC3 had close relationship with tumor volume, differentiated degree, lymphatic metastasis, and PCNA expression. The expression of MMP-9 had close relationship with tumor volume, lymphatic metastasis, and vascular invasion. The expression of GPC3 had close relationship with tumor volume, differentiated degree, lymphatic metastasis, vascular invasion, and proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) expression. There were positive correlations between GPC3 and MMP-9 (r=0.538, P=0.042), MMP-9 and MMP-14 (r=0.430, P=0.024), and GPC3 and MMP-14 (r=0.563, P=0.563). Kaplan-Meier method showed that the expressions of GPC3, MMP-9 and MMP-14 were associated with the prognosis of HCC patients, and patients with high expressions of GPC3, MMP-9 and MMP-14 had poor prognosis. Conclusion: GPC3, MMP-9 and MMP-14 are highly expressed in HCC patients, which shows poor prognosis. Therefore, the detection of GPC3, MMP-9 and MMP-14 after surgery has a certain value on assessment of the prognosis of HCC patients.