Background To analyze the expression of G protein-coupled receptor kinase 4 (GRK4) in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and adjacent tissues and determine the effect of GRK4 on prognosis. Materials and Methods GRK4 expression profiles in HCC and paracancerous tissues, as well as patient clinicopathological features, were retrieved from the Cancer Genome Atlas Program <Emphasis Type="Underline">(</Emphasis>TCGA) and Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) public databases. The relationship between the tumor’s GRK4 expression and the clinicopathological characteristics of the patients as well as their prognosis was examined. GRK4’s distribution in clinical samples of HCC and paracancerous tissues was assessed using immunoblotting and qRT-PCR. Results The analysis included 371 HCC patients in the Cancer Genome Atlas Program <Emphasis Type="Underline">(</Emphasis>TCGA) cohort. The expression of GRK4 in HCC was higher than that in the adjacent tissue (p < 0.05). The analysis of clinicopathologic features of 337 patients showed that the expression of GRK4 in HCC was related to gender (p = 0.022), race (p = 0.054), ECOG score (p = 0.005), and inflammation around the tumor (p = 0.008). Patients with lower GRK4 expression in the tumor had a better prognosis than those with high expression (p = 0.003). Among the four Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) datasets analyzed, three studies (GSE62232, GSE14520, GSE76427) showed that the expression of GRK4 in the tumor was lower than in the adjacent liver tissue, and one study (GSE45436) indicated that the expression of GRK4 in the tumor was higher than in the paracancerous tissue. The GSE14520 cohort included 242 patients, in which the expression of GRK4 in the tumor was not correlated with clinicopathological characteristics, but was associated with patient prognosis (P = 0.038). Patients with low expression of GRK4 in HCC had a better prognosis than those with high expression. The measurement of GRK4 expression in clinical samples documented that the levels of GRK4 mRNA and protein in the tumor were lower than in adjacent liver tissue. Conclusions The analysis of public datasets revealed that GRK4 is expressed differentially in paracancerous and HCC tissues. GRK4 expression in HCC tissues was linked to the prognosis of patients, and patients benefited from low GRK4 expression in HCC tissues. The association between GRK4 and HCC requires more investigation.

Expression of GRK4 in hepatocellular carcinoma and its correlation with patient prognosis

期刊论文
出版模式：

开放获取
发表日期：

2025年6月5日

查看全文

Yunxiu Luo

摘要

Background

To analyze the expression of G protein-coupled receptor kinase 4 (GRK4) in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and adjacent tissues and determine the effect of GRK4 on prognosis.

Materials and Methods

GRK4 expression profiles in HCC and paracancerous tissues, as well as patient clinicopathological features, were retrieved from the Cancer Genome Atlas Program (TCGA) and Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) public databases. The relationship between the tumor’s GRK4 expression and the clinicopathological characteristics of the patients as well as their prognosis was examined. GRK4’s distribution in clinical samples of HCC and paracancerous tissues was assessed using immunoblotting and qRT-PCR.

Results

The analysis included 371 HCC patients in the Cancer Genome Atlas Program (TCGA) cohort. The expression of GRK4 in HCC was higher than that in the adjacent tissue (p < 0.05). The analysis of clinicopathologic features of 337 patients showed that the expression of GRK4 in HCC was related to gender (p = 0.022), race (p = 0.054), ECOG score (p = 0.005), and inflammation around the tumor (p = 0.008). Patients with lower GRK4 expression in the tumor had a better prognosis than those with high expression (p = 0.003). Among the four Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) datasets analyzed, three studies (GSE62232, GSE14520, GSE76427) showed that the expression of GRK4 in the tumor was lower than in the adjacent liver tissue, and one study (GSE45436) indicated that the expression of GRK4 in the tumor was higher than in the paracancerous tissue. The GSE14520 cohort included 242 patients, in which the expression of GRK4 in the tumor was not correlated with clinicopathological characteristics, but was associated with patient prognosis (P = 0.038). Patients with low expression of GRK4 in HCC had a better prognosis than those with high expression. The measurement of GRK4 expression in clinical samples documented that the levels of GRK4 mRNA and protein in the tumor were lower than in adjacent liver tissue.

Conclusions

The analysis of public datasets revealed that GRK4 is expressed differentially in paracancerous and HCC tissues. GRK4 expression in HCC tissues was linked to the prognosis of patients, and patients benefited from low GRK4 expression in HCC tissues. The association between GRK4 and HCC requires more investigation.