title: Erythropoietin and erythropoietin receptor in hepatocellular carcinoma: correlation with vasculogenic mimicry and poor prognosis.
abstract: To evaluate erythropoietin (Epo) and erythropoietin receptor (EpoR) expression, its relationship with vasculogenic mimicry (VM) and its prognostic value in human hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), we examined Epo/EpoR expression and VM formation using immunohistochemistry and CD31/PAS (periodic acid-Schiff) double staining on 92 HCC specimens. The correlation between Epo/EpoR expression and VM formation was analyzed using two-tailed Chi-square test and Spearman correlation analysis. Survival curves were generated using Kaplan-Meier method. Multivariate analysis was performed using Cox regression model to assess the prognostic values. Results showed positive correlation between Epo/EpoR expression and VM formation (P < 0.05). Patients with Epo or EpoR expression exhibited poorer overall survival (OS) than Epo-negative or EpoR-negative patients (P < 0.05). Epo-positive/VM-positive and EpoR-positive/VM-positive patients had the worst OS (P < 0.05). In multivariate survival analysis, age, Epo and EpoR were independent prognostic factors related to OS. These results will provide evidence for further research on HCC microcirculation patterns and also will provide new possible targets for HCC diagnosis and treatment.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, Tianjin Medical University Tianjin 300070, China ; Department of Pathology, General Hospital of Tianjin Medical University Tianjin 300052, China.
authors.forename: Zhihong
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, Tianjin Medical University Tianjin 300070, China ; Department of Pathology, General Hospital of Tianjin Medical University Tianjin 300052, China ; Department of Pathology, Cancer Hospital of Tianjin Medical University Tianjin 300060, China.
authors.forename: Baocun
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Sun
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, Tianjin Medical University Tianjin 300070, China ; Department of Pathology, General Hospital of Tianjin Medical University Tianjin 300052, China.
authors.forename: Xiulan
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Zhao
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, Tianjin Medical University Tianjin 300070, China.
authors.forename: Bing
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Shao
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, Tianjin Medical University Tianjin 300070, China.
authors.forename: Jindan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: An
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, Tianjin Medical University Tianjin 300070, China ; Department of Pathology, General Hospital of Tianjin Medical University Tianjin 300052, China.
authors.forename: Qiang
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Gu
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, Tianjin Medical University Tianjin 300070, China.
authors.forename: Yong
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, Tianjin Medical University Tianjin 300070, China.
authors.forename: Xueyi
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Dong
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, Tianjin Medical University Tianjin 300070, China ; Department of Pathology, Cancer Hospital of Tianjin Medical University Tianjin 300060, China.
authors.forename: Yanhui
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, Tianjin Medical University Tianjin 300070, China ; Department of Pathology, Cancer Hospital of Tianjin Medical University Tianjin 300060, China.
authors.forename: Zhiqiang
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Qiu
mesh_terms: D000367:Age Factors; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000032:analysis*; D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000098:blood supply / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D004921:Erythropoietin / Q000032:analysis*; D005260:Female; D006498:Hepatectomy; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D053208:Kaplan-Meier Estimate; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000098:blood supply / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D018716:Molecular Mimicry; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D019408:Platelet Endothelial Cell Adhesion Molecule-1 / Q000032:analysis; D016016:Proportional Hazards Models; D017467:Receptors, Erythropoietin / Q000032:analysis*; D012307:Risk Factors; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; C554270:EPO protein, human; D019408:Platelet Endothelial Cell Adhesion Molecule-1; D017467:Receptors, Erythropoietin; D004921:Erythropoietin
keywords: Erythropoietin; erythropoietin receptor; hepatocellular carcinoma; prognosis; vasculogenic mimicry