[Expression of ESM-1 in hepatocellular carcinoma is associated with angiogenesis and tumor invasion].
OBJECTIVE
To study the expression and significance of endothelial cell specific molecule-1 (ESM-1) in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) tissue and serum from HCC patients.


METHODS
The ESM-1 expression was evaluated by immunohistochemistry staining and quantitative real-time PCR in 30 tumor tissues from HCC patients, 15 surrounding non-cancerous hepatic parenchyma, and 15 normal controls. Serum levels of ESM-1 were also measured in the HCC patients and healthy controls by Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA).


RESULTS
ESM-1 was expressed in endothelium of 24 HCC tissues and 6 pericarcinomatous tissues, however, it was not expressed in normal liver tissues. The mRNA level of ESM-1 was 0.064 +/- 0.018, 0.383 +/- 0.103, 0.528 +/- 0.148 in the corresponding tissues, respectively. The mRNA level of ESM-1 in tissues was correlated with the TNM phase of HCC patients, tumor vascular invasion as well as metastasis. The serum ESM-1 was (12.643 +/- 2.280) ng/ml and (4.660 +/- 1.172) ng/ml in hepatic cell carcinoma and normal controls, respectively.


CONCLUSIONS
The expression of ESM-1 is significantly up-regulated in HCC, suggesting that ESM-1 may play an important role in the pathoigenesis of HCC.
Department of Hematology, Provincial Hospital, Affiliated to Shandong University, Jinan 250021, China.
Xin
X
Xiang
Wen-bo
WB
Zhao
Xin
X
Wang
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D042783:Endothelial Cells / Q000378:metabolism; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008099:Liver / Q000098:blood supply / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009361:Neoplasm Invasiveness; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins / Q000097:blood / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D009389:Neovascularization, Pathologic; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000379:methods; D011379:Prognosis; D011509:Proteoglycans / Q000097:blood / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism
C101134:ESM1 protein, human; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins; D011509:Proteoglycans; D012333:RNA, Messenger