Syt-7 Overexpression Predicts Poor Prognosis and Promotes Cell Proliferation in Hepatocellular Carcinoma

Abstract

Aim: To explore the prognostic significance of Syt-7 in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and the potential mechanisms. Methods: Immunohistochemistry was used to examine the expression of Syt-7. Overall survival and disease-free survival were compared between Syt-7 positive and negative groups. The effects of Syt-7 knockdown on BEL-7404 cells were further evaluated. Results: Syt-7 expression was significantly higher in HCC tumorous tissues compared with paracancerous tissues. Syt-7 was closely associated with α-fetoprotein tumor size, vascular invasion, tumor node metastasis stage and tumor differentiation. Syt-7 was an independent risk factor for overall survival and disease-free survival. Additionally, Syt-7 knockdown inhibited proliferation and colony formation and induced cell cycle arrest in HCC cells. Conclusion: Syt-7 overexpression forecasts unfavorable prognosis and promotes cell proliferation in HCC.

Keywords::

• BEL-7404
• hepatocellular carcinoma
• prognosis
• proliferation
• Syt-7

Financial & competing interests disclosure

The present study was supported by funding from the Anhui Provincial Education Department (grant no. KJ2019A0294), Key Projects of Translational Medicine of Bengbu Medical College (grant no. BYTM2019022), the Science and Technological Fund of Anhui Province for Outstanding Youth (grant no. 2008085J37) and the First Affiliated Hospital of Bengbu Medical College Science Fund for Distinguished Young Scholars (grant no. 2019byyfyjq05). The authors have no other relevant affiliations or financial involvement with any organization or entity with a financial interest in or financial conflict with the subject matter or materials discussed in the manuscript apart from those disclosed.

No writing assistance was utilized in the production of this manuscript.

Additional information

Funding

The present study was supported by funding from the Anhui Provincial Education Department (grant no. KJ2019A0294), Key Projects of Translational Medicine of Bengbu Medical College (grant no. BYTM2019022), the Science and Technological Fund of Anhui Province for Outstanding Youth (grant no. 2008085J37) and the First Affiliated Hospital of Bengbu Medical College Science Fund for Distinguished Young Scholars (grant no. 2019byyfyjq05). The authors have no other relevant affiliations or financial involvement with any organization or entity with a financial interest in or financial conflict with the subject matter or materials discussed in the manuscript apart from those disclosed.