Angiogenesis and proliferation markers in adjacent cirrhotic tissue could predict hepatocellular carcinoma outcome after liver transplantation

• DOI: 10.1097/meg.0000000000000131
• Publication Date: 2014-06-12T12:04:44Z
• Authors: Ana Campillo; Estela Solanas; Maria J. Morandeira; Tomas Castiella; Sara Lorente; Francisco Agustín...; Elena Piazuelo; Alba de Martino; Maria T. Serrano
• Keywords: Proliferation index

The current staging systems for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) do not sufficiently predict outcomes after liver transplantation (LT). present study assessed whether some tissue markers related to proliferation and angiogenesis have prognostic value.The expression of CD34, vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), VEGFR2, VEGFR1, angiopoietin-1, angiopoietin-2, TIE2, COX-2, proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) in tumor adjacent cirrhotic samples from 36 patients with HCC (n=10 recurrence LT) was determined by immunochemistry. Microvessel density CD34 staining the PCNA labeling index calculated as percentage positive cells among at least 1000 hepatocyte nuclei studied each sample using computer program ContimUZ. VEGF, VEGFR-1, COX-2 were evaluated two blinded pathologists. rate analyzed a minimum follow-up months.A higher both recurrence. also microvascular invasion. High (staining ≥50% hepatocytes) COX2 [P=0.025, odds ratio (OR)=7.5, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.3-43.4], VEGF (P=0.01, OR=12, CI 1.8-80.4), its receptor VEGFR-2 (P=0.02, OR=8.5, 1.4-49.5) tissue, but LT.A high levels angiogenic could be predictive LT.