Expression of HIP/PAP in hepatocellular carcinoma and effect of siRNA on migration and invasion in HCC cells

Objective:To investigate the expression of HIP/PAP in hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC)patients and explore its role in migration and invasion of HCC.Methods:The expression of HIP/PAP in HCC tissue and corresponding adjacent noncancerous tissue was assessed by IHC,RT-PCR and Western blot.The correlation between clinicopathological features and HIP/PAP expression was analyzed.The role of HIP/PAP on invasion and migration of HCC cells was observed by RNA interference,wound healing and Transwell assay.Results:Both mRNA and protein expression of HIP/PAP was upregulated in HCC tissues compared to tumor-adjacent tissue and correlated with poor tumor differentiation,advanced tumor stage and vascular invasion.HIP/PAP expression was also upregulated in HCC cells,and silencing its expression by specific siRNA could inhibit the invasion and migration of HCC cells.Conclusions:HIP/APA is overexpressed in HCC and contributes to the migration and invasion of HCC cells.