Clinical significance of herpes virus entry mediator expression in hepatitis B virus‑related hepatocellular carcinoma

  • Authors:
    • Yong Yi
    • Xiao‑chun Ni
    • Gao Liu
    • Yi‑Rui Yin
    • Jing‑Long Huang
    • Wei Gan
    • Pei‑Yun Zhou
    • Ruo‑Yu Guan
    • Cheng Zhou
    • Bao-Ye Sun
    • Shuang‑jian Qiu
  • View Affiliations

  • Published online on: July 16, 2020     https://doi.org/10.3892/ol.2020.11880
  • Article Number: 19
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Abstract

Herpes virus entry mediator (HVEM) is overexpressed in several malignancies, including hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). However, to the best of our knowledge, the clinical significance of HVEM in hepatitis B virus (HBV)‑related HCC remains unclear. Thus, the present study aimed to explore the clinical significance of HVEM in HBV‑related HCC. In the present study, HVEM expression was evaluated in HCC cell lines and HCC frozen samples. The prognostic value of HVEM was assessed in a cohort of 221 patients with HBV‑related HCC, following radical resection. B‑ and T‑lymphocyte attenuator (BTLA) expression in subsets of CD8+ T cells was determined via flow cytometry analysis. The results demonstrated high HVEM expression in HCC cell lines, and in HCC tissues compared with paired non‑cancerous liver tissues. HVEM expression was demonstrated to be significantly associated with tumor encapsulation and vascular invasion. Furthermore, tumor HVEM status was significantly associated with infiltration of regulatory T cells, but not with CD8+ T cells. Notably, high HVEM expression in HCC was determined to be an independent predictor of an unfavorable outcome of patients with HCC following radical resection. Higher BTLA expression (the receptor of HVEM) was observed in both HCC‑infiltrating CD8+ effector memory (CCR7 CD45RA) and CD45RA+ effector memory (CCR7 CD45RA+) T cells in HCC tissues and blood compared with those in paired peritumor tissues or peripheral blood. Taken together, the results of the present study suggest that HVEM may serve a critical role in HBV‑related HCC, most likely by promoting tumor progression and tumor immune evasion, thus the HVEM/BLTA signaling pathway may be a potential target in tumor immunotherapy.
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October-2020
Volume 20 Issue 4

Print ISSN: 1792-1074
Online ISSN:1792-1082

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Spandidos Publications style
Yi Y, Ni Xc, Liu G, Yin YR, Huang JL, Gan W, Zhou PY, Guan RY, Zhou C, Sun B, Sun B, et al: Clinical significance of herpes virus entry mediator expression in hepatitis B virus‑related hepatocellular carcinoma. Oncol Lett 20: 19, 2020.
APA
Yi, Y., Ni, X., Liu, G., Yin, Y., Huang, J., Gan, W. ... Qiu, S. (2020). Clinical significance of herpes virus entry mediator expression in hepatitis B virus‑related hepatocellular carcinoma. Oncology Letters, 20, 19. https://doi.org/10.3892/ol.2020.11880
MLA
Yi, Y., Ni, X., Liu, G., Yin, Y., Huang, J., Gan, W., Zhou, P., Guan, R., Zhou, C., Sun, B., Qiu, S."Clinical significance of herpes virus entry mediator expression in hepatitis B virus‑related hepatocellular carcinoma". Oncology Letters 20.4 (2020): 19.
Chicago
Yi, Y., Ni, X., Liu, G., Yin, Y., Huang, J., Gan, W., Zhou, P., Guan, R., Zhou, C., Sun, B., Qiu, S."Clinical significance of herpes virus entry mediator expression in hepatitis B virus‑related hepatocellular carcinoma". Oncology Letters 20, no. 4 (2020): 19. https://doi.org/10.3892/ol.2020.11880