Fig. 1

STOML2 expression is upregulated in HCC tissues and predicts a poor prognosis. a-e The mRNA and protein level of STOML2 in 48 matched HCC tissues and adjacent non-tumor liver tissues was detected by qRT-PCR (a), Western blot (b), and immunohistochemical staining assay (e), representative bands of the STOML2 in HCC tissues and peri-tumor liver tissues were shown. The expression of STOML2 was normalized against GAPDH, according to the intensity of each lane with the use of computerized image system (Image-Pro Plus 6.0), and it was much higher in HCC tissues in contrast to the matched adjacent non-tumor liver tissues (c). Compared with metastasis-free HCC, the expression of STOML2 in metastasis HCCs was much higher (d). Representative immunohistochemical staining of STOML2 in HCC tissues and peri-tumor liver tissues were shown (Scale bar: 100 μm): 1, the view of both HCC and peri-tumor tissues; 2, the view of HCC tissue; 3, the view of peri-tumor tissue (e). f Scores indicate STOML2 levels in representative tumor tissues with immunohistochemical staining, which were calculated by intensity and percentage of stained cells (Scale bar: 100 μm). g, h Patients with high STOML2 expression have poorer OS (g) and higher probability of recurrence (h) compared with patients with low STOML2 expression: T tumor, P peri-tumor, S specimen, MH metastasis HCCs, and MFH metastasis-free HCCs.