Loss of expression of MHC class I-related chain A (MICA) is a frequent event and predicts poor survival in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma.

Loss of expression of MHC class I-related chain A (MICA) is a frequent event and predicts poor survival in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma. Int J Clin Exp Pathol. 2014;7(6):3123-31 Authors: Zhang J, Xu Z, Zhou X, Zhang H, Yang N, Wu Y, Chen Y, Yang G, Ren T Abstract Natural killer (NK) cells are important effector cells for the first line of defense against tumor. Distant MHC class I homolog MICA has been identified as human ligand for NK cell activating receptor NKG2D. Engagement of MICA triggers NK cells and augments antigen-specific CTL anti-tumor immunity. However, the expression level of MICA and its clinical significance in hepatocellular carcinoma remains to be elucidated. In the present study, a hospital-based study cohort of 143 HCC patients was involved. MICA expression levels were determined by immunohistochemical staining. The association of MICA expression with tumor clinicopathologic features, disease-free survival, and overall survival of HCC patients were analyzed. Significantly decreased expression of MICA was detected in tumor specimens. MICA expression was significantly associated with AFP level (P < 0.001) and tumor node metastasis stage (P = 0.003). Patients with reduced level of MICA had a statistically significantly shorter disease-free survival and overall survival duration than patients with preserved expression of MICA. However, in multivariate analysis, MICA expression level was found not to be an...
Source: International Journal of Clinical and Experimental Pathology - Category: Pathology Authors: Tags: Int J Clin Exp Pathol Source Type: research