Identification of FKBP11 as a biomarker for hepatocellular carcinoma.

BACKGROUND

Glycine N-methyltransferase (GNMT) is a tumor suppressor of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). High proportions of GNMT knockout mice developed HCC. We previously identified a potential novel marker from Gnmt knockout mice, FK506 binding protein 11 (FKBP11). Here, we determined the clinical usefulness of FKBP11.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

FKBP11 expression levels were analyzed in 123 paired tumor and tumor-adjacent non-tumorous (TA) tissue samples from patients with HCC and in 29 benign liver samples from patients with hemangioma using quantitative real-time polymerase-chain-reaction.

RESULTS

FKBP11 was expressed at a higher level in tumor tissues compared to TA tissues (p<0.01). Moreover, we observed a significantly higher level of FKBP11 in TA tissues than in benign liver samples (p<0.01). Interestingly, expression of FKBP11 was higher in hepatitis viral-infected TA and benign tissues than in samples without viral etiology (p<0.05).

CONCLUSION

These results suggest a progressively elevated expression of FKBP11 during the development of HCC and FKBP11 has the potential to be an early marker for HCC.