OBJECTIVETo detect the expression of Nusap1 of surgical margins in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and investigate its association with early tumor recurrence.

METHODSThe expression of Nusap1 in the surgical margins of HCC, which were histopathologically negative for tumor cells, was examined using immunohistochemistry in 61 HCC cases.

RESULTSFifteen of 21 (71.4%) cases with immunohistochemical positivity for Nusap1 expression in the surgical margins had early recurrence of HCC, a rate significantly higher than that in patients with negative Nusap1 expression (12/40, 30%) (P<0.05).

CONCLUSIONSNusap1 expression in the surgical margins of HCC is closely correlated to early postoperative recurrence and can serve as an indicator for predicting early recurrence of HCC.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular ; metabolism ; pathology ; surgery ; Female ; Humans ; Immunohistochemistry ; Liver Neoplasms ; metabolism ; pathology ; surgery ; Male ; Microtubule-Associated Proteins ; metabolism ; Middle Aged ; Neoplasm Recurrence, Local ; pathology ; Young Adult