Association of Upregulated HMGB1 and c-IAP2 Proteins With Hepatocellular Carcinoma Development and Progression

Background: hepatocellular carcinoma (hcc) is one of the most important health problems in china.objectives: this study analyzed expression of high-mobility group protein b1 (hmgb1) and inhibitor of apoptosis protein-2 (c-iap2) proteins in hcc compared to paired para-tumor tissue samples to assess the association with hcc pathogenesis and progression. materials and methods: sixty-eight hcc and para-tumor tissue samples were collected for western blot, qrt-pcr and immunohistochemical analyses of hmgb1 and c-iap2. results: hmgb1 and c-iap2 proteins were highly expressed in hcc tissue samples [85.3% (58/68) and 82.4% (56/68), respectively] compared to para-tumor tissue samples [32.3% and 27.9%, respectively]. furthermore, expression of hmgb1 was significantly associated with enhanced c-iap2 expression in hcc tissue samples (r = 0.878, p < 0.01). expression of hmgb1 was associated with tumor multiplicity and size, alpha-fetoprotein (afp) level and advanced tnm stage, while expression of c-iap2 was associated with tumor size, afp level and advanced tnm stage. conclusions: expression of hmgb1 and c-iap2 proteins was associated with hcc development and progression, and the expression of hmgb1 and c-iap2 proteins in hcc were significantly associated with each other. additionally, these proteins may show promise as biomarkers to predict hcc progression.