Decreased CRHBP expression is predictive of poor prognosis in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma

Xia,Hai‑Bing; Wang,Hui‑Ju; Fu,Luo‑Qin; Wang,Shi‑Bing; Li,Li; Ru,Guo‑Qing; He,Xiang‑Lei; Tong,Xiang‑Min; Mou,Xiao‑Zhou; Huang,Dong‑Sheng

doi:10.3892/ol.2018.9073

Decreased CRHBP expression is predictive of poor prognosis in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma

Authors:
- Hai‑Bing Xia
- Hui‑Ju Wang
- Luo‑Qin Fu
- Shi‑Bing Wang
- Li Li
- Guo‑Qing Ru
- Xiang‑Lei He
- Xiang‑Min Tong
- Xiao‑Zhou Mou
- Dong‑Sheng Huang
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Affiliations: Clinical Department of Graduate School, Bengbu Medical College, Bengbu, Anhui 233003, P.R. China, Clinical Research Institute, Zhejiang Provincial People's Hospital, People's Hospital of Hangzhou Medical College, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310014, P.R. China
Published online on: July 4, 2018 https://doi.org/10.3892/ol.2018.9073
Pages: 3681-3689
Copyright: © Xia et al. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of Creative Commons Attribution License.

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Abstract

Corticotropin releasing hormone binding protein (CRHBP) mediates the reaction between corticotropin releasing hormone (CRH) and corticotropin releasing hormone receptors (CRHRs). It is expressed in a number of organs, and the expression of CRHBP is associated with tumorigenesis and cancer progression. The aim of the present study was to investigate CRHBP expression levels in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and its association with patient clinicopathological characteristics as well as prognosis. The expression of CRHBP was examined by immunohistochemistry in 169 HCC tissues and 151 adjacent non‑tumorous tissues. The results were validated by western blotting using patient tissues and liver cancer cell lines. The association of CRHBP expression with clinicopathological patient characteristics and survival rate was analyzed statistically. Expression of CRHBP was detected in 142/151 (94.0%) non‑tumorous liver tissues, and 84/169 (49.7%) HCC tissues (P<0.001). The expression of CRHBP was negatively associated with tumor size (P=0.013), Edmondson Grade (P=0.002), hepatitis B virus antigen (P=0.020), and α‑fetoprotein levels (P=0.014). Patients exhibiting low CRHBP expression were associated with shorter survival time compared with those exhibiting high CRHBP expression (P=0.012). The results of western blotting analysis suggest that reduced CRHBP expression is frequently observable in patients with HCC. Low CRHBP expression in HCC tissues may be a predictor of clinical prognosis and a potential therapeutic target for HCC.

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