Reviewer's report
Title:IL-6, through p-STAT3 rather than p-STAT1, activates
hepatocarcinogenesis and affects survival of hepatocellular carcinoma patients
Version:3Date:18 August 2014
Reviewer: Federico Moriconi
Reviewer's report:
Major points of criticisms:
1) The authors write that tissue p-STAT-3 presents a predominant immunostain
rate unlike p-STAT-1 in all HCC specimens. On the upper side of Fig. 4-1
(Picture p-STAT-1 Level I) there is too much background that makes this picture
not comparable with the lower figure (p-STAT-3 Level I) showing a significant
positivity for STAT-3. This figure must be removed and replaced by a new one
with less background. Moreover, I see a strong positivity for STAT-1, but not for
STAT-3, for Level II mostly in the peripheral parenchyma of the slide. This is in
contrast with your results. How do you explain it and which cells are these?
According to the IHC studies presented, I can see a difference of detection in
favor of STAT-3 only for Level I but not for Level II and III, as is reported by the
authors.
2) Are only hepatocytes to express STAT-3? Did the authors make an Heppar-1
staining?
In a recent published brilliant study, Dokduang H et al. (J Hepatobil. Pancreat.
Sci. 2014 Jul 16: doi: 10.1002/jhbp.131. Epub ahead of print) analyzed the
expression of STATs proteins in human cholangiocarcinoma tissues.
Interestingly, the expression of STAT-3 was significantly associated with a
shorter survival of tumor patients supporting the theory of Kao JT et al. Moreover,
Dokduang et al. detected STATs protein mainly in the cytoplasm of the inflamed
bile duct and in bile duct cancer cells.
The authors must show more in detail and with better quality of IHC studies
STAT-3 expression profile and comment their results in the discussion section
also according to the study of Dokduang et al. Differences in the expression of
STAT-3 in two biologically and histologically different tumor entities, such as
HCC and CC, could open a new scenario in explaining the role of STAT-3/IL-6 at
the precancerous stage and possibly in identifying a new biological marker for
HCC.
Level of interest: An article of importance in its field
Quality of written English: Acceptable
Statistical review: Yes, but I do not feel adequately qualified to assess the
statistics.
Reviewer's report
Title:IL-6, through p-STAT3 rather than p-STAT1, activates
hepatocarcinogenesis and affects survival of hepatocellular carcinoma patients
Version:3Date:18 August 2014
Reviewer: Federico Moriconi
Reviewer's report:
Major points of criticisms:
1) The authors write that tissue p-STAT-3 presents a predominant immunostain
rate unlike p-STAT-1 in all HCC specimens. On the upper side of Fig. 4-1
(Picture p-STAT-1 Level I) there is too much background that makes this picture
not comparable with the lower figure (p-STAT-3 Level I) showing a significant
positivity for STAT-3. This figure must be removed and replaced by a new one
with less background. Moreover, I see a strong positivity for STAT-1, but not for
STAT-3, for Level II mostly in the peripheral parenchyma of the slide. This is in
contrast with your results. How do you explain it and which cells are these?
According to the IHC studies presented, I can see a difference of detection in
favor of STAT-3 only for Level I but not for Level II and III, as is reported by the
authors.
2) Are only hepatocytes to express STAT-3? Did the authors make an Heppar-1
staining?
In a recent published brilliant study, Dokduang H et al. (J Hepatobil. Pancreat.
Sci. 2014 Jul 16: doi: 10.1002/jhbp.131. Epub ahead of print) analyzed the
expression of STATs proteins in human cholangiocarcinoma tissues.
Interestingly, the expression of STAT-3 was significantly associated with a
shorter survival of tumor patients supporting the theory of Kao JT et al. Moreover,
Dokduang et al. detected STATs protein mainly in the cytoplasm of the inflamed
bile duct and in bile duct cancer cells.
The authors must show more in detail and with better quality of IHC studies
STAT-3 expression profile and comment their results in the discussion section
also according to the study of Dokduang et al. Differences in the expression of
STAT-3 in two biologically and histologically different tumor entities, such as
HCC and CC, could open a new scenario in explaining the role of STAT-3/IL-6 at
the precancerous stage and possibly in identifying a new biological marker for
HCC.
Level of interest: An article of importance in its field
Quality of written English: Acceptable
Statistical review: Yes, but I do not feel adequately qualified to assess the
statistics.
Please review this paper.
user
Reviewer's report
Title:IL-6, through p-STAT3 rather than p-STAT1, activates
hepatocarcinogenesis and affects survival of hepatocellular carcinoma patients
Version:3Date:18 August 2014
Reviewer: Federico Moriconi
Reviewer's report:
Major points of criticisms:
1) The authors write that tissue p-STAT-3 presents a predominant immunostain
rate unlike p-STAT-1 in all HCC specimens. On the upper side of Fig. 4-1
(Picture p-STAT-1 Level I) there is too much background that makes this picture
not comparable with the lower figure (p-STAT-3 Level I) showing a significant
positivity for STAT-3. This figure must be removed and replaced by a new one
with less background. Moreover, I see a strong positivity for STAT-1, but not for
STAT-3, for Level II mostly in the peripheral parenchyma of the slide. This is in
contrast with your results. How do you explain it and which cells are these?
According to the IHC studies presented, I can see a difference of detection in
favor of STAT-3 only for Level I but not for Level II and III, as is reported by the
authors.
2) Are only hepatocytes to express STAT-3? Did the authors make an Heppar-1
staining?
In a recent published brilliant study, Dokduang H et al. (J Hepatobil. Pancreat.
Sci. 2014 Jul 16: doi: 10.1002/jhbp.131. Epub ahead of print) analyzed the
expression of STATs proteins in human cholangiocarcinoma tissues.
Interestingly, the expression of STAT-3 was significantly associated with a
shorter survival of tumor patients supporting the theory of Kao JT et al. Moreover,
Dokduang et al. detected STATs protein mainly in the cytoplasm of the inflamed
bile duct and in bile duct cancer cells.
The authors must show more in detail and with better quality of IHC studies
STAT-3 expression profile and comment their results in the discussion section
also according to the study of Dokduang et al. Differences in the expression of
STAT-3 in two biologically and histologically different tumor entities, such as
HCC and CC, could open a new scenario in explaining the role of STAT-3/IL-6 at
the precancerous stage and possibly in identifying a new biological marker for
HCC.
Level of interest: An article of importance in its field
Quality of written English: Acceptable
Statistical review: Yes, but I do not feel adequately qualified to assess the
statistics.
assistant