Expression of zinc transporters ZIP4, ZIP14 and ZnT9 in hepatic carcinogenesis-An immunohistochemical study.

Introduction: Dysregulation of both, systemic zinc levels and tissue-specific zinc transporters, is reported in chronic inflammatory and malignant liver disease (hepatocellular carcinoma, HCC). Aim of this study is to assess the expression level of three zinc transporters in liver tissue and HCC: ZIP4, ZIP14 and ZnT9.

Methods: The study is based on tissue samples obtained from 138 patients with histologically proven HCC.