Expression of 14-3-3 Sigma Protein in Cholangiocarcinoma Progression

Abstract

Background and Objective: The 14-3-3 sigma is found in cytoplasm of all eukaryotic cells and has been most directly links to cancer. The expression of this protein was increased by DNA damage which occurs in many cancers including cholangiocarcinoma. Therefore, this study was to investigate the expression profiles of 14-3-3 sigma protein in human CCA tissues and correlation analysis of clinicopathological parameters.   

Method: The human CCA tissue sections were examined the expression of 14-3-3 sigma by immunohistochemistry (IHC) and the stained sections were examined under microscope. Fisher’s exact test was used for analyzing of 14-3-3 sigma expression and clinicopathology of CCA patients.  Kaplan- Meier, with a Log-Rank test was used for determining the survival analysis.

Result: Thirty-eight CCA tissue samples were studied. Immunohistochemical staining of 14-3-3 sigma overexpression occurred in hyperplastic ducts (68.4%) and tumor tissues (79%) when compared with normal bile ducts. Its high expression was significantly associated with patients’ shorter survival and overall metastasis of CCA patients (p=0.041).

Conclusion: The overexpression of 14-3-3 sigma was found in hyperplastic lesion and CCA. Moreover, its overexpression was significantly associated with shorter survival rate and CCA metastasis. These results indicate that the overexpression of 14-3-3 sigma is possibly a prognostic indicator for CCA patients