High expression of protein phosphatase 2 regulatory subunit B'' alpha predicts poor outcome in hepatocellular carcinoma patients after liver transplantation

Figure 1  Curves of overall survival (A) and recurrence-free survival (B) in hepatocellular carcinoma patients after liver transplantation.

Figure 2 Expression and localization of protein phosphatase 2 regulatory subunit B''α protein in hepatocellular carcinoma tissues. A: Protein phosphatase 2 regulatory subunit B''α protein expression was high in hepatocellular carcinoma tissue (orange arrow) and low in corresponding adjacent tissue (black arrow). Representative images of tumor foci were obtained under light microscopy at 200 x magnification (scale bar, 50 μm); B: Strong staining of protein phosphatase 2 regulatory subunit B''α protein was mainly detected in the cytoplasm of HCC cells at 400 x magnification; scale bar, 25 μm.

Figure 3 Upregulation of protein phosphatase 2 regulatory subunit B''α was associated with poor prognosis in hepatocellular carcinoma. A: Survival curve based on protein phosphatase 2 regulatory subunit B''α expression (log-rank test, P = 0.000); B: Recurrence-free curve based on protein phosphatase 2 regulatory subunit B''α expression (log-rank test, P = 0.025). PPP2R3A: Protein phosphatase 2 regulatory subunit B''α.

Figure 4 Upregulation of alpha-fetoprotein was associated with poor prognosis in hepatocellular carcinoma. A: Survival curve based on alpha-fetoprotein (log-rank test, P = 0.001); B: Recurrence-free curve based on alpha-fetoprotein (log-rank test, P = 0.000). AFP: Alpha-fetoprotein.

Figure 5 High expression of protein phosphatase 2 regulatory subunit B''α combined with alpha-fetoprotein ≥ 400 ng/mL were associated with poor prognosis in hepatocellular carcinoma. A: When protein phosphatase 2 regulatory subunit B''α < 4 points, there was no statistical difference in the overall survival of patients with alpha-fetoprotein < 400 ng/mL or ≥ 400 ng/mL; however, when protein phosphatase 2 regulatory subunit B''α ≥ 4 points, overall survival was significantly reduced; B: This trend was also detected for recurrence-free survival time after hepatocellular carcinoma liver transplantation. PPP2R3A: Protein phosphatase 2 regulatory subunit B''α; AFP: Alpha-fetoprotein.

Figure 6 Survival and recurrence-free survival of hepatocellular carcinoma patients with protein phosphatase 2 regulatory subunit B''α low expression or meeting Milan criteria. A: Overall survival rate, it could be seen from Figure A that the survival rate of the two groups of patients with low expression of protein phosphatase 2 regulatory subunit B''α were different from those of patients who met the Milan criteria (P < 0.05); B: Recurrence-free survival rate, the same result was observed in recurrence-free survival (P < 0.05). PPP2R3A: Protein phosphatase 2 regulatory subunit B''α.