Clinical significance of citrullinated glial fibrillary acidic protein in predicting outcomes in hepatocellular carcinoma

Figure 1 Representative cases of citrullinated glial fibrillary acidic protein expression according to intensity. A: Weak staining (1 +); B: Moderate staining (2 +); C: Strong staining (3 +). Nuclear localization of citrullinated glial fibrillary acidic protein within tumor cells is clearly observed in all representative images. Original magnification × 100.

Figure 2 Cumulative survival rates and recurrence rates. A: Cumulative survival rates were significantly higher in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma and low glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) expression compared with those with high citrullinated GFAP (cit-GFAP) expression (P = 0.033). Patients with low cit-GFAP expression had 1-year, 3-year, and 5-year cumulative survival rates of 97.7%, 93.9%, and 89.2%, respectively. In contrast, the corresponding rates for patients with high cit-GFAP expression were 91%, 82.2%, and 72.0%, respectively; B: Cumulative recurrence rates were higher in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma and high cit-GFAP expression compared with those with low cit-GFAP expression. Patients with low cit-GFAP expression had 1-year, 3-year, and 5-year cumulative recurrence rates of 13.3%, 41.6%, and 56.1%, respectively. In contrast, the corresponding rates for patients with high cit-GFAP expression were 235%, 47.3%, and 73.2%, respectively (P = 0.125). cit-GFAP: Citrullinated glial fibrillary acidic protein.