@article{3123053,
    title = "Autotaxin Expression in Hepatocellular Carcinoma",
    author = "Memet, I. and Tsalkidou, E. and Tsaroucha, A.K. and Lambropoulou, M. and Chatzaki, E. and Trypsianis, G. and Schizas, D. and Pitiakoudis, M. and Simopoulos, C.",
    journal = "Journal of Investigative Surgery",
    year = "2018",
    volume = "31",
    number = "5",
    pages = "359-365",
    publisher = "Taylor and Francis Ltd.",
    issn = "0894-1939, 1521-0553",
    doi = "10.1080/08941939.2017.1331280",
    keywords = "alpha fetoprotein;  autotaxin;  alkylglycerophosphoethanolamine phosphodiesterase;  phosphodiesterase;  tumor marker, adult;  aged;  alpha fetoprotein blood level;  Article;  cancer growth;  cancer mortality;  cancer patient;  cancer prognosis;  cancer surgery;  cancer survival;  chronic hepatitis B;  clinical article;  comparative study;  female;  follow up;  histology;  human;  human cell;  human tissue;  immunohistochemistry;  liver cell carcinoma;  liver cirrhosis;  liver resection;  liver tissue;  lymph vessel metastasis;  male;  priority journal;  protein expression;  sex difference;  tumor number;  cancer grading;  case control study;  liver;  liver cell carcinoma;  liver tumor;  metabolism;  middle aged;  mortality;  pathology;  prognosis;  survival rate, Aged;  Biomarkers, Tumor;  Carcinoma, Hepatocellular;  Case-Control Studies;  Female;  Humans;  Liver;  Liver Neoplasms;  Male;  Middle Aged;  Neoplasm Grading;  Phosphoric Diester Hydrolases;  Prognosis;  Survival Rate",
    abstract = "Background: Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is one of the most common malignant tumors. Despite the important progress observed in liver surgery, the survival rates are discouraging. The aim of this study was to investigate the expression of autotaxin in hepatocellular carcinoma. Materials and Methods: Liver tissues from 28 human hepatocellular carcinomas were evaluated for the expression of autotaxin by immunohistochemistry. The gender, age, histological grade, lymphovascular invasion, number of tumors, levels of serum alpha-fetoprotein (aFP), presence of liver cirrhosis, hepatitis, surgery and survival rates were recorded. Results: Immunohistochemistry confirmed the expression of autotaxin in hepatocellular carcinoma. The histological grade seems to be the only independent predictor of stronger autotaxin expression, as significantly higher levels of autotaxin were detected in histological grades II and III. In addition, levels of autotaxin seem to be the most important independent prognostic factor related to poor survival. There was an eight-fold higher risk of death in patients with high levels of autotaxin compared to patients with low levels. Conclusions: Autotaxin expression in hepatocellular carcinoma could be of great importance. High autotaxin expression in HCC is detected in patients with histological grade II and III. Further, patients with elevated expression levels were found to possess an eight-fold higher risk of death. Autotaxin role in HCC should be further elucidated. © 2017, Copyright © 2017 Taylor & Francis Group, LLC."
}