Angiogenesis of Hepatocellular Carcinoma: An Immunohistochemistry Study

Overview

Journal World J Hepatol

Publisher Baishideng Publishing Group

Specialty Gastroenterology

Date 2019 Apr 11

PMID 30967907

Citations 12

Authors

Decebal Fodor

Ioan Jung

Sabin Turdean

Catalin Satala

Simona Gurzu

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Background: Although hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is one of the most vascular solid tumors, antiangiogenic therapy has not induced the expected results.

Aim: To uncover immunohistochemical (IHC) aspects of angiogenesis in HCC.

Methods: A retrospective cohort study was performed and 50 cases of HCC were randomly selected. The angiogenesis particularities were evaluated based on the IHC markers Cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2), vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) A and the endothelial area (EA) was counted using the antibodies CD31 and CD105.

Results: The angiogenic phenotype evaluated with VEGF-A was more expressed in small tumors without vascular invasion (pT1), whereas COX-2 was rather expressed in dedifferentiated tumors developed in non-cirrhotic liver. The CD31-related EA value decreased in parallel with increasing COX-2 intensity but was higher in HCC cases developed in patients with cirrhosis. The CD105-related EA was higher in tumors developed in patients without associated hepatitis.

Conclusion: In patients with HCC developed in cirrhosis, the newly formed vessels are rather immature and their genesis is mediated VEGF. In patients with non-cirrhotic liver, COX-2 intensity and number of mature neoformed vessels increases in parallel with HCC dedifferentiation.

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