Elevated DSN1 expression is associated with poor survival in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma

Dosage suppressor of Nnf1 (DSN1) is a component of the kinetochore protein complex that is required for proper chromosome segregation. Some studies have explored that DSN1 is related to colorectal cancer progression. However, the role of DSN1 in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) remains unknown. This study aimed to explore DSN1 expression in HCC tissues. We obtained data from The Cancer Genome Atlas and Gene Expression Omnibus to analyze DSN1 expression in HCC. DSN1 mRNA expression was assessed in 30 pairs of HCC samples via reverse-transcription quantitative polymerase chain reaction. Immunohistochemical analysis of 95 HCC tissue specimens was performed to assess DSN1 expression and examine the clinicopathological characteristics of DSN1 in HCC. Results showed that DSN1 was upregulated in HCC tissues and was strongly associated with sex (P = .031), α-fetoprotein (P < .001), tumor size (P = .032), tumor nodule number (P = .028), cancer embolus (P = .011), and differentiation grade (P = .001). Moreover, Kaplan-Meier and Cox proportional-hazards analyses indicated that high DSN1 expression was related to poor HCC patient survival and that DSN1 can serve as an independent prognostic factor for overall survival and disease-free survival. In conclusion, our findings indicate that DSN1 could serve as a novel prognostic biomarker for HCC patients. •DSN1 expression is elevated in HCC specimens compared with ANLTs.•High DSN1 expression is strongly associated with sex, AFP, tumor size, tumor nodule number, cancer embolus, and differentiation grade.•High DSN1 expression predicts poor survival in HCC patients.•DSN1 is an independent prognostic factor for OS and DFS in HCC patients.•DSN1 can serve as a novel prognostic biomarker in HCC patients.