[The effect of pro-angiogenic factors and their receptors on angiogenesis in hepatocellular carcinoma].
OBJECTIVE
To explore the effect of pro-angiogenic factors and their receptors on angiogenesis in hepatocellular carcinoma.


METHODS
Expression of VEGF/KDR and Angiopoietins/Tie2 was detected by RT-PCR and Western blot in 15 cases with hepatocellular carcinoma, 15 tumor adjacent tissues (<1 cm, >5 cm), 8 cirrhotic liver, and 4 normal liver. Immunohistochemistry (IHC) was used to detect CD34 expression, and the relationship between neovascular density and angiogenesis was analyzed.


RESULTS
The expression levels of VEGF and Ang2 were significantly higher in hepacellular carcinoma group than those in the other groups (P < 0.01), and so did the expression of CD34. The expressions of KDR and Ang1/Tie2 showed no significant difference in all groups, but they indeed increased to various levels in tumor and tumor adjacent tissues as compared with those in cirrhosis and normal liver.


CONCLUSIONS
VEGF/KDR and Angiopoietins/Tie2 may be the crucial signal pathways in the development of hepatocellular carcinoma.
Zhao
Zhi-Cheng
ZC
Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, the First Affiliated Hospital, College of Medical, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310003, China. zc.zhao@163.com
Zheng
Shu-Sen
SS
Wan
Yun-le
YL
Jia
Chang-Ku
CK
Li
Jin-Jun
JJ
Gu
Jian-Ren
JR
Guo
Bing-Lin
BL
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D042702:Angiopoietin-2 / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics; D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D006801:Humans; D008099:Liver / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009389:Neovascularization, Pathologic; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics; D042787:Receptor, TIE-2 / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics; D015398:Signal Transduction; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics; D040301:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptor-2 / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics
D042702:Angiopoietin-2; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; D042787:Receptor, TIE-2; D040301:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptor-2