Cyclooxygenase-2 expression is associated with initiation of hepatocellular carcinoma, while prostaglandin receptor-1 expression predicts survival

Table 1 Clinicopathological characteristics of 116 hepatocellular carcinoma patients treated by curative resection, stratified by COX-2 and EP₁ receptor expression

Variable	COX-2		P value	EP1 receptor		P value
	Low expression	High expression		Low expression	High expression
	(n = 62)	(n = 54)		(n = 73)	(n = 43)
Gender, M/F	48/14	45/9	0.426	60/13	33/10	0.477
Age (yr)	46.9 ± 10.8	47.9 ± 11.5	0.308	46.6 ± 11.1	47.3 ± 11.2	0.486
HbsAg
Negative	10	10	0.734	11	9	0.420
Positive	52	44		62	34
Liver cirrhosis
No	10	10	0.734	14	6	0.472
Yes	52	44		59	37
AFP (ng/mL)
< 400	41	44	0.062	56	29	0.276
≥ 400	21	10		17	14
Edmondson grade
I-II	26	37	0.004	46	17	0.014
III–IV	36	17		27	26
Child-Pugh class
A	43	48	0.773	60	31	0.201
B	11	14		13	12
Tumor capsule
Complete	37	34	0.717	44	27	0.788
Incomplete	25	20		29	16
Tumor size (cm)	5.7 (3-7)	6.6 (4-8.6)	0.134	5 (3.5-7)	6 (3.7-8.5)	0.207
Albumin (g/L)	41.1 ± 4.4	40.4 ± 4.6	0.434	41.5 ± 4.3	40.2 ± 4.5	0.134
Platelet count (109/L)	167.9 (107.3-205.3	186.6 (136.3-230)	0.136	178.9 (107.3-205.3	186.6 (136.3-230)	0.833
AST (U/L)	56.6 (28.3-61)	55.6 (27-60)	0.924	38 (27-60)	44 (30.5-61.5)	0.737
ALT (U/L)	54.8 (28-56)	62.7 (24.8-57.9)	0.539	37(27-56)	38(27-55)	0.917
Total bilirubin (μmol/L)	14.08 (8.9-18.4)	14.3 (9.4-15.3)	0.912	11.9(9.35-16.6)	13.4(9-17.7)	0.580

AFP: Alpha-fetoprotein; ALT: Alanine aminotransferase; AST: Aspartate aminotransferase; HBsAg: Hepatitis B surface antigen.

Table 2 Multivariable analysis to identify predictors of overall survival in 116 hepatocellular carcinoma patients

Factors	Hazard ratio	95%CI	P value
AFP ≥ 400 ng/mL	1.691	1.094-2.614	0.018
Incomplete tumor capsule	0.979	0.659-1.454	0.915
Tumor size ≥ 5 cm	1.582	1.027-2.438	0.038
Edmondson grade III–IV	1.149	0.663-1.992	0.621
EP1 receptor expression	2.318	1.190-4.516	0.014

AFP: Alpha-fetoprotein.