BACKGROUND/AIMS: Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a highly vascular tumor. Angiopoietin-1 and Angiopoietin-2 have been shown to be involved in tumor angiogenesis. We investigated the expression of Angiopoietin-1 and Angiopoietin-2 in HCC. METHODS: The expression of Angiopoietin-1 and Angiopoietin-2 mRNAs in cultured hepatoma cells under hypoxic conditions and in HCC and noncancerous liver tissue was evaluated by real-time PCR. The expression of Angiopoietin-1, Angiopoietin-2, and their receptor Tie-2 in HCC was assessed by immunohistochemistry. The changes in Angiopoietin-1 and Angiopoietin-2 expression were evaluated in relation to tumor differentiation and changes in tumor vascularity. RESULTS: Hypoxic conditions did not up-regulate the expression of Angiopoietin-1 and Angiopoietin-2 mRNAs in hepatoma cells. Increased expression of Angiopoietin-1 and Angiopoietin-2 mRNAs was detected in HCC. Angiopoietin-1 and Angiopoietin-2 were detected in hepatoma cells, hepatic stellate cells, and smooth muscle cells, whereas Tie-2 was detected in endothelial cells, hepatic stellate cells and smooth muscle cells. Increased expression of Angiopoietin-2 and Angiopoietin-2 mRNA was associated with tumor dedifferentiation. The expression of Angiopoietin-1 and Angiopoietin-2 correlated with HCC vascularity. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings indicate that the increased expression of Angiopoietin-1 and Angiopoietin-2 play a critical role in the process of vascular development in HCC.
BACKGROUND/AIMS: Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a highly vascular tumor. Angiopoietin-1 and Angiopoietin-2 have been shown to be involved in tumor angiogenesis. We investigated the expression of Angiopoietin-1 and Angiopoietin-2 in HCC. METHODS: The expression of Angiopoietin-1 and Angiopoietin-2 mRNAs in cultured hepatoma cells under hypoxic conditions and in HCC and noncancerous liver tissue was evaluated by real-time PCR. The expression of Angiopoietin-1, Angiopoietin-2, and their receptor Tie-2 in HCC was assessed by immunohistochemistry. The changes in Angiopoietin-1 and Angiopoietin-2 expression were evaluated in relation to tumor differentiation and changes in tumor vascularity. RESULTS:Hypoxic conditions did not up-regulate the expression of Angiopoietin-1 and Angiopoietin-2 mRNAs in hepatoma cells. Increased expression of Angiopoietin-1 and Angiopoietin-2 mRNAs was detected in HCC. Angiopoietin-1 and Angiopoietin-2 were detected in hepatoma cells, hepatic stellate cells, and smooth muscle cells, whereas Tie-2 was detected in endothelial cells, hepatic stellate cells and smooth muscle cells. Increased expression of Angiopoietin-2 and Angiopoietin-2 mRNA was associated with tumor dedifferentiation. The expression of Angiopoietin-1 and Angiopoietin-2 correlated with HCC vascularity. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings indicate that the increased expression of Angiopoietin-1 and Angiopoietin-2 play a critical role in the process of vascular development in HCC.
Authors: Paloma Sanz-Cameno; Samuel Martín-Vílchez; Enrique Lara-Pezzi; María J Borque; Javier Salmerón; Paloma Muñoz de Rueda; José A Solís; Manuel López-Cabrera; Ricardo Moreno-Otero Journal: Am J Pathol Date: 2006-10 Impact factor: 4.307
Authors: Woo Sung Moon; Ho Sung Park; Ki Hoon Yu; Kyu Yun Jang; Myoung Jae Kang; Harry Park; Andrzej S Tarnawski Journal: J Korean Med Sci Date: 2006-04 Impact factor: 2.153
Authors: E-M Boneberg; D F Legler; M M Hoefer; C Ohlschlegel; H Steininger; L Füzesi; G M Beer; V Dupont-Lampert; F Otto; H-J Senn; G Fürstenberger Journal: Br J Cancer Date: 2009-08-18 Impact factor: 7.640