Clinical Significance of Axin and β-catenin Protein Expression in Primary Hepatocellular Carcinomas

The aim of the present research was to investigate clinicopathologic correlations of immunohistochemically-demonstrated axin (axis inhibition) and β-catenin expression in primary hepatocellular carcinomas (HCCs), in comparison with paraneoplastic, cirrhotic and normal liver tissues. Variation in Axin expression across groups were significant (P < 0.01), correlating with alpha fetoprotein (AFP), HBsAg, cancer plugs in the portal vein, and clinical stage of HCCs(P < 0.05); however, there were no links with sex, age, and tumour size (P > 0.05). Differences in cell membrane β-catenin expression were also statistically significant (P < 0.01), again correlated with AFP, HBsAg, cancer plugs in the portal vein, and clinical stage in HCCs (P < 0.05) but not with sex, age, and tumour size (P > 0.05). Axin expression levels in tissues with reduced membrane β-catenin were low (P < 0.05), also being low with nuclear β-catenin expression (P < 0.05). Axin and β-catenin may play an important role in the genesis and progression of HCC via the Wnt signal transmission pathway. Simultaneous determination of axin, β-catenin, AFP, and HBsAg may be useful for early diagnosis, and metastatic and clinical staging of HCCs.