Expression of MAPK and PI3K/AKT/mTOR Proteins according to the Chronic Liver Disease Etiology in Hepatocellular Carcinoma

Table 3

Strong expression of MAPK pathway proteins in HCC patients in both tumor and adjacent cirrhosis according to CLD etiology.

Etiology

KRAS

BRAF

MEK

ERK-1/2

Tumor n (%)

Cirrhosis n (%)

value

Tumor n (%)

Cirrhosis n (%)

value

Tumor n (%)

Cirrhosis n (%)

value

Tumor n (%)

Cirrhosis n (%)

value

Viral

11/41 (26.8)

0/33 (0.0)

0.004^b

7/40 (17.5)

3/32 (9.4)

0.755^b

2/41 (4.9)

1/32 (3.1)

1.000^b

7/32 (21.9)

2/32 (6.3)

0.150^b

Nonviral

3/39 (7.7)

2/34 (5.9)

1.000^b

11/39 (28.2)

8/30 (26.6)

1.000^b

2/39 (5.1)

0/32 (0.0%)

0.563^b

6/32 (18.8)

0/30 (0.0)

0.390^b

value

0.024^a

0.049^b

—

0.257^a

0.075^a

—

1.000^b

1.000^b

—

0.756^a

0.492^b

—

Data are expressed as the absolute number/total of samples analyzed (percentage). MAPK, mitogen-activated protein kinases; HCC, hepatocellular carcinoma; CLD, chronic liver disease. ^aChi-square test. ^bFisher’s exact test.