Attenuated ZHX3 expression is predictive of poor outcome for liver cancer: Indication for personalized therapy.

The zinc-fingers and homeoboxes (ZHX) family members have been characterized as master regulators in cancer initiation and development. The present study performed data-mining with publicly available datasets and immunohistochemistry to assess the expression status of ZHX factors and the corresponding prognostic implications in liver cancer. Increased ZHX3 mRNA expression was associated with favorable overall survival in patients with liver cancer. Subgroups analyses revealed a significant association between the expression of ZHX factors and outcomes in select patient cohorts. Immunohistochemical analysis supported that ZHX3 expression was an independent prognostic indicator for patient survival. These results suggested that dysregulation of ZHX factors is involved in disease progression and ZHX3 expression may serve as a prognostic biomarker for liver cancer.