Decreased expression of serum semaphorin 3B is associated with poor prognosis of patients with hepatocellular carcinoma

Li,Guang-Zhen; Shen,Di; Li,Guang-Hong; Wei,Meng; Zheng,Li-Jie; Liu,Zeng-Li; Sun,Rong-Qi; Zhou,Shao-Jun; Zhang,Zong-Li; Gao,Yan-Chao

doi:10.3892/etm.2021.9667

Decreased expression of serum semaphorin 3B is associated with poor prognosis of patients with hepatocellular carcinoma

Authors:
- Guang-Zhen Li
- Di Shen
- Guang-Hong Li
- Meng Wei
- Li-Jie Zheng
- Zeng-Li Liu
- Rong-Qi Sun
- Shao-Jun Zhou
- Zong-Li Zhang
- Yan-Chao Gao
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Affiliations: Department of General Surgery, Qilu Hospital of Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong 250012, P.R. China, Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Shandong Maternity and Child Care Hospital, Jinan, Shandong 250014, P.R. China, Department of Endocrinology, The Affiliated Hospital of Taishan Medical College, Tai'an, Shandong 271000, P.R. China, Department of General Surgery, Qilu Hospital of Shandong University, Qingdao, Shandong 266035, P.R. China, Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, Liaocheng People's Hospital, Liaocheng, Shandong 252000, P.R. China
Published online on: January 21, 2021 https://doi.org/10.3892/etm.2021.9667
Article Number: 236
Copyright: © Li et al. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of Creative Commons Attribution License.

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Abstract

Semaphorin 3B (SEMA‑3B), which belongs to the semaphorin family, has an important role in cell apoptosis and inhibition of angiogenesis. A previous study by our group revealed that SEMA‑3B was downregulated in tumor tissues of patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and exerts anti‑motility and anti‑invasion effects on tumor cells. However, the serum levels of SEMA‑3B and their clinical significance have remained elusive; therefore, the aim of the present study was to monitor its expression in HCC and investigate its clinical significance. ELISA was used to determine the serum levels of SEMA‑3B in 132 patients with HCC and 57 healthy individuals. The association between SEMA‑3B and clinicopathological parameters was investigated. Serum SEMA‑3B was indicated to be significantly decreased in patients with HCC as compared with that in the controls (P<0.05) and it was negatively associated with tumor size (P=0.039), encapsulation (P=0.002) and TNM stage (P=0.034). The prognosis of patients with low expression of SEMA‑3B was poor. In conclusion, the results of the present study revealed that serum SEMA‑3B is decreased in HCC and is negatively associated with prognosis; therefore, it may be used as a prognostic marker in HCC.

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