Expression of claudin 10 protein in hepatocellular carcinoma: impact on survival

Purpose To investigate the expression of claudin 10 in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and the impact on angiogenesis and the postoperative survival of HCC patients. Methods The expression of claudin 10 protein was analyzed on samples from 99 HCC patients undergoing hepatectomy with immunohistochemistry and 31 fresh specimens with Western blotting. We examined the relationship between claudin 10 expression with clinicopathological factors, microvessel density (MVD), and postoperative survival. Results Western blotting and immunohistochemical staining showed that claudin 10 protein was highly expressed in HCC, compared with paraneoplastic liver tissue and normal liver tissue (P < 0.01). Claudin 10 protein expression levels were significantly higher in HCC specimens with microscopic venous invasion (P < 0.01). MVD in HCC increased with enhanced claudin 10 expression (P < 0.01). Kaplan-Meier survival analysis revealed that HCC patients with high claudin 10 expression had significantly shorter overall survival (P = 0.01). Multivariate analysis showed that claudin 10 expression was an independent prognostic indicator for postoperative overall survival of HCC patients (P < 0.01). Conclusions Claudin 10 protein is highly expressed in HCC tissue and is closely related to angiogenesis. Claudin 10 protein could be a useful marker to predict poor prognosis of HCC patients after hepatectomy.