Aims: Protein kinase Cs (PKCs) play important roles in cell proliferation, differentiation, apoptosis, migration and tumorigenesis. In this report, we investigated the expression of PKCeta in human hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) tissues and explored its role in the development of HCC.
Methods: We used real-time quantitative RT-PCR, mutation analysis, and immunohistochemical staining to analyse the expression of PKCeta in 50 pairs of human hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) tissues.
Results: Expression of PKCeta was down-regulated in 82% of HCC tissues and the reduction of PKCeta was associated with poorer long-term survival of HCC patients.
Conclusion: Reduced expression of PKCeta may represent a molecular lesion in the development of more aggressive disease of HCC.