Aim: To investigate the relationship between the expression of highly expressed protein in cancer (Hec 1) and infiltration, metastasis and prognosis of human primary gallbladder carcinoma (PGC).
Methods: The expression of Hec 1 in was detected 108 patients with PGC by SABC immunohistochemistry with 15 cases of chronic cholecystitis as control. Then, a 5 year follow-up was carnedout in 96 out of 108 patients to analyze the correlation between Hec 1 and prognosis of the patients.
Results: The clinical pathological characteristics of PGC and clinical outcome of the patients were associated with the expression of Hec 1. Hec 1 was highhy expressed in cancer tissues with lymph node metastasis and poor differentiation. Especially, a statistical correlation was found with more advanced Nevin stages of PGC (P < 0.05). Moreover, the 5-year survival rate of the patients with PGC whose expression of Hec 1 was positive was significantly lower than that of the patients without Hec 1 expression (P < 0.01).
Conclusion: Hec 1 may be associated with the development, infiltration and metastasis of PGC. The combination of Hec 1 expression in cancer tissues with clinical staging may faliliate the auurate predication of patients' prognosis.