Fig. 1

Identification of potential HCC driver markers using a 22 K human protein microarray system and clinical relevance of WASF2 overexpression. A Heatmap of 47 differentially expressed autoantibodies from normal and liver cirrhosis to HCC (NC, normal control; LC, liver cirrhosis; 1 y ago, 1 year ago; 6 m ago, 6 months ago; Dx, HCC diagnosis). B ROC analysis of 47 autoantibodies. C Venn diagram analysis of the ROC result for 47 autoantibodies and OS from TCGA_LIHC. D Bar chart shows the fold change in tumor (T) versus non-tumor (NT) WASF2 expression in 66 matched pairs of human HCC tissues and corresponding noncancerous adjacent liver tissues. E Western blot analysis of WASF2 in 22 matched pairs of human HCC tissues with corresponding noncancerous adjacent liver tissues. F Correlation analysis between mRNA and protein expression of WASF2 in HCC tissues (n = 22, Pearson’s correlation coefficient, r = 0.28, P = 0.013). G WASF2 mRNA and protein expression in two immortalized non-transformed hepatocyte cells (THLE-2 and MIHA) and eight HCC cell lines analyzed using qRT-PCR and H western blot analysis. I Graph chart shows the ratio of the relative density of WASF2 protein expression normalized to that GAPDH. J Correlation analysis between WASF2 mRNA and protein expression in normal liver cells and HCC cell lines (n = 10, Pearson’s correlation coefficient, r = 0.79, P = 0.006). K Representative IHC photomicrographs of WASF2 in HCC (T, tumor tissues; NT, non-tumor tissues). Scale bar = 300 μm. *P < 0.05; **P < 0.01