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Angiopoietins and Tie‐2 expression in angiogenesis and proliferation of human hepatocellular carcinoma
Author(s) -
Mitsuhashi Noboru,
Shimizu Hiroaki,
Ohtsuka Masayuki,
Wakabayashi Yasuo,
Ito Hiroshi,
Kimura Fumio,
Yoshidome Hiroyuki,
Kato Atsushi,
Nukui Yuji,
Miyazaki Masaru
Publication year - 2003
Publication title -
hepatology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 5.488
H-Index - 361
eISSN - 1527-3350
pISSN - 0270-9139
DOI - 10.1053/jhep.2003.50204
Subject(s) - angiogenesis , hepatocellular carcinoma , immunostaining , cd34 , immunohistochemistry , messenger rna , pathology , vascular endothelial growth factor , microvessel , medicine , cancer research , biology , vegf receptors , stem cell , biochemistry , gene , genetics
Human hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a hypervascular tumor but the mechanisms underlying the process of angiogenesis are not fully understood. Angiopoietins (Ang) have been recently identified as ligands for Tie‐2 receptor and are thought to be important factors in vascular maturation and stability during angiogenesis. In this study, we investigated the expression of Ang‐1, Ang‐2, Tie‐2, and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in surgically resected specimens from 46 patients with HCC to determine their potential role in tumor angiogenesis and its progression. VEGF messenger RNA (mRNA) was significantly up‐regulated in HCC compared to normal liver tissue from patients with hepatic metastases. No differences were found between HCC and adjacent liver tissue. Meanwhile, Ang‐2 mRNA expression in HCC was significantly increased when compared to adjacent liver tissue. On the other hand, Ang‐1 and Tie‐2 mRNA expression in HCC was not different from that in adjacent liver tissue. Immunohistochemical staining also showed increased Ang‐2 protein in HCC. Furthermore, a high Ang‐2/1 mRNA ratio in HCC was closely associated with tumor portal vein invasion, tumor diameter, and the microvessel density level as assessed by CD34 immunostaining. With regard to prognosis, the survival time for patients in the high Ang‐2/1 mRNA ratio group was significantly poorer when compared with the low Ang‐2/1 mRNA ratio group. In conclusion, an increased expression of Ang‐2/1 in the presence of VEGF may play a critical role in promoting tumor angiogenesis and progression in human HCC.