Increased expression of platelet-derived endothelial cell growth factor in human hepatocellular carcinomas correlated with high Edmondson grades and portal vein tumor thrombosis.
Platelet-derived endothelial cell growth factor (PD-ECGF), identical to thymidine phosphorylase, has been reported as an angiogenic factor in human malignancies. However, the role of PD-ECGF in human hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is still unconfirmed. Herein, we studied the expression of PD-ECGF in 27 human HCC cases by immunohistochemistry, to clarify the relationship to tumor angiogenesis. The immunoreaction of PD-ECGF in HCC cells was scored in both the staining percentage and intensity. CD34, an endothelial cell marker, was used to evaluate the intratumoral microvessel density (IMVD). PD-ECGF expression was noted in carcinoma cells in 14 (51.9%) of 27 HCCs. In these cases, the carcinoma cells showed heterogeneous staining in both the nucleus and cytoplasm. Tumor-associated stroma cells and infiltrating lymphocytes were also stained. Kupffer cells in non-tumor areas were strongly positive. Statistically, the expression of PD-ECGF increased in HCC specimens with high Edmondson grades (III-IV) or portal vein tumor thrombosis (PVTT) (P<0.05). Additionally, the IMVD of PD-ECGF-positive HCC specimens (136.071+/-31.008, mean +/- SD) was higher than that of the PD-ECGF-negative HCC specimens (61.077+/-15.795) (P<0.05). These findings may suggest that PD-ECGF is one of the angiogenic factors in human HCCs. Furthermore, with the increasing expression of PD-ECGF, HCC cells show poor differentiation and invasive behavior.
Guo
L
L
First Department of Pathology, Kochi Medical School, Kohasu, Oko-cho, Nankoku City, Kochi 783-8505, Japan. guolimei@kochi-ms.ac.jp
Kuroda
N
N
Toi
M
M
Miyazaki
E
E
Hayashi
Y
Y
Enzan
H
H
Jin
Y
Y
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000098:blood supply* / Q000473:pathology; D016228:Endothelial Growth Factors; D004730:Endothelium, Vascular / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D015972:Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic; D006801:Humans; D007124:Immunoenzyme Techniques; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000098:blood supply* / Q000473:pathology; D008222:Lymphokines; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D009389:Neovascularization, Pathologic / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D011169:Portal Vein / Q000473:pathology*; D013939:Thymidine Phosphorylase / Q000378:metabolism*; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; D042442:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factors; D020246:Venous Thrombosis / Q000473:pathology*; D019014:fas Receptor / Q000378:metabolism
D016228:Endothelial Growth Factors; D008222:Lymphokines; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; D042442:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factors; D019014:fas Receptor; D013939:Thymidine Phosphorylase