Key Points
- To investigate the expression of angiopoietin-1 and angiopoietin-2 in human hepatocellular carcinoma and evaluate their role in tumor neovascularization, growth, and progression.
- Analyzed Ang1 and Ang2 gene expression in 23 paired human hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and adjacent uninvolved liver tissue samples.
- Evaluated Ang2 expression across hypervascular (n=12) and hypovascular (n=11) HCC tumor subtypes.
- Cloned a variant Ang2 cDNA and assessed the effects of ectopic overexpression on tumor formation and hemorrhage in a nude mouse xenograft model.
- Ang1 was equally expressed across HCC and noncarcinomatous liver tissue, whereas Ang2 was selectively overexpressed in HCC tissue.
- Ang2 expression was detected in 10 of 12 hypervascular HCC specimens compared to 2 of 11 hypovascular HCC specimens.
- Ectopic expression of Ang2 in nonexpressing HCC cells accelerated human hepatoma development and induced intratumoral hemorrhage in nude mice.
Structured PICO
PPopulation23 samples of human hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and paired adjacent uninvolved liver samples, and an animal model system (nude mice)
IInterventionEctopic expression of Ang2 in nonexpressing HCC cells
CComparatorAdjacent noncarcinomatous liver tissue; nonexpressing HCC cells
OOutcomeAngiopoietin expression levels, tumor formation, and hemorrhagesurrogate
Angiopoietin-2 is highly expressed in hepatocellular carcinoma and its overexpression promotes rapid tumor development and hemorrhage in animal models, suggesting a role in tumor neovascularization.