title: Expression of betacellulin and epidermal growth factor receptor in hepatocellular carcinoma: implications for angiogenesis.
abstract: Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is becoming one of the common malignant tumors worldwide and is characterized by high vascularity. Angiogenesis (formation of new microvessels) is critical for growth and progression of various human solid tumors. Betacellulin (BTC) is a member of the epidermal growth factor (EGF) family, and its signal action is mediated through EGF receptors (EGFR). In this study, to understand the role of BTC in relation to EGFR in HCC, we examined localization, expression, and involvement in angiogenesis of BTC and EGFR. The results revealed that expression of BTC, EGFR, and tumor growth factor-alpha messenger RNA in HCC was increased by 80%, 60%, and 40%, respectively, as compared with those in the nontumorous tissues. Increased expression of BTC protein was observed in 31 (61%) of 51 HCC specimens, and the level of tumor growth factor-alpha protein was higher in 17 (33%) of 51 HCC specimens than in nonmalignant hepatocytes. Betacellulin was predominantly expressed in HCC cells, whereas EGFR was observed in sinusoidal endothelial cells of HCC in 25 tumors (49%). Betacellulin was secreted in all 4 examined HCC cell lines. The HCC specimens showing positive EGFR expression in tumor endothelial cells had a significantly higher microvessel density than those without EGFR expression (P < .005). A strong correlation was found between BTC expression in cancer cells and EGFR expression in tumor endothelial cells (P < .001). These findings suggest that overexpression of BTC by HCC cells and EGFR by tumor endothelial cells enhance vascularity in a paracrine manner.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, Research institute of Clinical Medicine, Chonbuk National University, Medical School, Jeonju-si, Jeollabuk-do 560-181, South Korea. mws@chonbuk.ac.kr
authors.forename: Woo Sung
authors.initials: WS
authors.lastname: Moon
authors.forename: Ho Sung
authors.initials: HS
authors.lastname: Park
authors.forename: Ki Hoon
authors.initials: KH
authors.lastname: Yu
authors.forename: Min Young
authors.initials: MY
authors.lastname: Park
authors.forename: Kyung Ryoul
authors.initials: KR
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Kyu Yun
authors.initials: KY
authors.lastname: Jang
authors.forename: Jong Suk
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Baik Hwan
authors.initials: BH
authors.lastname: Cho
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D066259:Betacellulin; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000378:metabolism; D015153:Blotting, Western; D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000098:blood supply / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D066246:ErbB Receptors / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D019085:Fluorescent Antibody Technique, Direct; D019084:Fluorescent Antibody Technique, Indirect; D015870:Gene Expression; D022781:Hepatocytes / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D007124:Immunoenzyme Techniques; D036341:Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000098:blood supply / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009389:Neovascularization, Pathologic / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism; D016211:Transforming Growth Factor alpha / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: C587851:BTC protein, human; D066259:Betacellulin; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D036341:Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D016211:Transforming Growth Factor alpha; D066246:ErbB Receptors