VEGF = 0.115, P = 0.037). Therefore, we infer that overexpression of CD151 probably up-regulated the expression of MMP9 and subsequently facilitated the formation of

new vessels in HCCs. Overexpression of CD151 or a high MVD alone was correlated with a poor prognosis for HCC patients.6, 27 To evaluate the prognostic significance of the overexpression Panobinostat mw profile of CD151, MMP9, and MVD together, immunohistochemical double-staining analysis of CD151, MMP9 expression, and MVD-CD34 staining was performed. Simultaneously higher levels of CD151, MMP9 expression, and MVD were observed in HCC tissues with a malignant phenotype (e.g., microvascular invasion, larger size, and dedifferentiation; Supporting Information Table 1). However, other clinical characteristics, including age, sex, hepatitis B surface antigen background, liver cirrhosis, preoperative treatment, preoperative serum alpha-fetoprotein, Child-Pugh score, tumor encapsulation, and HDAC assay TNM stage, were not directly related to the concomitant overexpression of the

three markers (Supporting Information Table 1). The 3-, 5-, and 7-year OS in the whole population was 67.3%, 54.1%, and 44.3%, respectively, and the cumulative recurrence rates were 36.7%, 45.6%, and 48.6%, respectively. Univariate analysis revealed that the tumor size (>5 cm), multiple tumors, vascular invasion, and a high TNM stage were predictors for low OS and high cumulative recurrence. Tumor differentiation was associated with OS. Other characteristics had no prognostic significance for OS and cumulative recurrence (Table 1). Expression of CD151, MMP9, or MVD was also found to be correlated with OS and cumulative recurrence rates (Table 1). The 3-, 5-, and 7-year OS in the CD151low group was significantly higher than that in the CD151high group (80.5% versus 52.3%,

66.7% versus 39.9%, and 56.9% versus 30.1%, respectively). The 3-, 5-, and 7-year cumulative recurrence rates in the CD151low group were significantly lower than those in the CD151high group (17.8% versus 58.2%, 29.9% versus 63.4%, and 33.9% versus 65.4%, respectively). The 3-, 5-, and 7-year OS in the MMP9low group was significantly higher than that in the MMP9high group (80.4% versus 54.3%, 63.2% versus 45.1%, and 52.2% versus 36.6%, respectively). The 3-, MCE 5-, and 7-year cumulative recurrence rates in the MMP9low group were significantly lower than those in the MMP9high group (29.4% versus 43.9%, 42.9% versus 48.1%, and 48.5% versus 48.7%, respectively). The 3-, 5-, and 7-year OS in the MVDlow group was significantly higher than that in the MVDhigh group (77.3% versus 57.3%, 60.7% versus 47.6%, and 50.9% versus 37.8%, respectively). The 3-, 5-, and 7-year cumulative recurrence rates in the MVDlow group were significantly lower than those in the MVDhigh group (31.3% versus 42.1%, 41.