Overexpression of osteopontin is associated with intrahepatic metastasis, early recurrence, and poorer prognosis of surgically resected hepatocellular carcinoma

Abstract

OPN mRNA overexpression was correlated closely with high-grade, late-stage, and early tumor recurrence, which lead to poorer prognosis. Osteopontin overexpression might serve as an unfavorable prognostic factor and a useful marker for predicting early recurrence in early-stage HCC.