JNK1/2 and ERK1/2 provides vital clues about tumor recurrence and survival in hepatocellular carcinoma patients

Future Oncol. 2018 Oct;14(24):2471-2481. doi: 10.2217/fon-2018-0171. Epub 2018 May 1.

Abstract

Aim: To explore JNK1/2 and ERK1/2 activation in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) patients.

Patients & methods: Phosphorylated-JNK1/2 and -ERK1/2 (p-JNK1/2 and p-ERK1/2) expressions were determined and analyzed in 104 unique HCC tissue specimens.

Results: Expression of p-JNK1/2 and p-ERK1/2 was not correlated with clinicopathological characteristics. High p-JNK1/2 and low p-ERK1/2 expressions predicated significantly lower tumor recurrence for HCC patients. However, HCC patients with low p-JNK1/2 and high p-ERK1/2 had higher tumor recurrence. Moreover, p-JNK1/2 positively, but p-ERK1/2 negatively, associated with overall survival (OS) and recurrence-free survival (RFS) in HCC patients. In addition, HCC patients with simultaneous low p-JNK1/2 and high p-ERK1/2 had poorer OS and RFS. On the contrary, patients with high p-JNK1/2 and low p-ERK1/2 presented better OS and RFS.

Conclusion: HCC patients with low p-JNK1/2 and high p-ERK1/2 either independently or simultaneously, had significantly higher tumor recurrence and worse OS.

Keywords: hepatocellular carcinoma; phosphorylated ERK1/2; phosphorylated JNK1/2.

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Biomarkers, Tumor / analysis
  • Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / enzymology
  • Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / mortality
  • Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / pathology*
  • Disease-Free Survival
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Liver Neoplasms / enzymology
  • Liver Neoplasms / mortality
  • Liver Neoplasms / pathology*
  • MAP Kinase Signaling System / physiology*
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 8 / metabolism*
  • Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 9 / metabolism*
  • Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / enzymology

Substances

  • Biomarkers, Tumor
  • Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 9
  • Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 8