Reviewer's report
Title:IQGAP1 and IQGAP2 are Reciprocally Altered in Hepatocellular
Carcinoma
Version: 1Date:7 September 2010
Reviewer: Yinkun Liu
Reviewer's report:
1. Although the western blot and IHC validation was done, according to the
description, a sufficient number of individual independent specimens need to be
quantified by analysis. Moreover, expression of IQGAP1 and IQGAP2 on same
single sample should be presented, rather than only expression rates.
2. There will be serious remodeling of liver at the cirrhosis stage. Is the cirrhosis
compensated? What clinical criteria were used to match the groups? There is no
information about such clinical criteria; details have to be provided to exclude the
possibility of bias.
3. The reciprocal IQGAP expression pattern may be a characteristic of a more
invasive and metastatic HCC phenotype. More evidances shouald be given by
the functional assays on cell adhesion, motility, invasion as well as the colony
formation in soft agar. In anothr [oint of view, how does this alternation of
IQGAPs to be regulated during HCC progression.
4. In the study, a high degree of sensitivity and specificity for IQGAP1 positivity
and IQGAP2 negativity in HCC should be supported by more strong evidences,
not only positive expression rates. Does it only dependent on the ability of
metastasis?
5. Based on pyrosequencing, authors concluded methylation of the Iqgap2
promoter is not the principle mechanism by which IQGAP2 is downregulated in
HCC. What be contributed to the paper objective by the result?
Level of interest: An article of limited interest
Quality of written English: Needs some language corrections before being
published
Statistical review: Yes, but I do not feel adequately qualified to assess the
statistics.
Reviewer's report
Title:IQGAP1 and IQGAP2 are Reciprocally Altered in Hepatocellular
Carcinoma
Version: 1Date:7 September 2010
Reviewer: Yinkun Liu
Reviewer's report:
1. Although the western blot and IHC validation was done, according to the
description, a sufficient number of individual independent specimens need to be
quantified by analysis. Moreover, expression of IQGAP1 and IQGAP2 on same
single sample should be presented, rather than only expression rates.
2. There will be serious remodeling of liver at the cirrhosis stage. Is the cirrhosis
compensated? What clinical criteria were used to match the groups? There is no
information about such clinical criteria; details have to be provided to exclude the
possibility of bias.
3. The reciprocal IQGAP expression pattern may be a characteristic of a more
invasive and metastatic HCC phenotype. More evidances shouald be given by
the functional assays on cell adhesion, motility, invasion as well as the colony
formation in soft agar. In anothr [oint of view, how does this alternation of
IQGAPs to be regulated during HCC progression.
4. In the study, a high degree of sensitivity and specificity for IQGAP1 positivity
and IQGAP2 negativity in HCC should be supported by more strong evidences,
not only positive expression rates. Does it only dependent on the ability of
metastasis?
5. Based on pyrosequencing, authors concluded methylation of the Iqgap2
promoter is not the principle mechanism by which IQGAP2 is downregulated in
HCC. What be contributed to the paper objective by the result?
Level of interest: An article of limited interest
Quality of written English: Needs some language corrections before being
published
Statistical review: Yes, but I do not feel adequately qualified to assess the
statistics.
Please review this paper.
user
Reviewer's report
Title:IQGAP1 and IQGAP2 are Reciprocally Altered in Hepatocellular
Carcinoma
Version: 1Date:7 September 2010
Reviewer: Yinkun Liu
Reviewer's report:
1. Although the western blot and IHC validation was done, according to the
description, a sufficient number of individual independent specimens need to be
quantified by analysis. Moreover, expression of IQGAP1 and IQGAP2 on same
single sample should be presented, rather than only expression rates.
2. There will be serious remodeling of liver at the cirrhosis stage. Is the cirrhosis
compensated? What clinical criteria were used to match the groups? There is no
information about such clinical criteria; details have to be provided to exclude the
possibility of bias.
3. The reciprocal IQGAP expression pattern may be a characteristic of a more
invasive and metastatic HCC phenotype. More evidances shouald be given by
the functional assays on cell adhesion, motility, invasion as well as the colony
formation in soft agar. In anothr [oint of view, how does this alternation of
IQGAPs to be regulated during HCC progression.
4. In the study, a high degree of sensitivity and specificity for IQGAP1 positivity
and IQGAP2 negativity in HCC should be supported by more strong evidences,
not only positive expression rates. Does it only dependent on the ability of
metastasis?
5. Based on pyrosequencing, authors concluded methylation of the Iqgap2
promoter is not the principle mechanism by which IQGAP2 is downregulated in
HCC. What be contributed to the paper objective by the result?
Level of interest: An article of limited interest
Quality of written English: Needs some language corrections before being
published
Statistical review: Yes, but I do not feel adequately qualified to assess the
statistics.
assistant