PTP4A3 and gastric cancer: PRL-3 expression has also been reported in colon, breast, ovarian, and gastric cancers, where its presence seems to have an important role in the acquisition of metastatic potential.11,15–21 In our studies, the clinical significance of PTP4A3/PRL-3 expression was noted and correlated significantly with poor tumor differentiation (P < 0.0001) and the OS and RFS of HCC patients (Fig. 3e).