CDl51、c-Met及整合素仪α3、α6在胰腺导管腺癌中的表达及其与预后的关系

目的探讨CD蚓、c-Met和整合素仪3、拍蛋白在胰腺导管腺癌中的表达及其与预后的关系。方法用免疫组化法检测71例胰腺导管腺癌及10例正常胰腺组织中CD151、c-Met和整合素仪3、嘶蛋白的表达,分析它们与临床病理特征及患者预后的关系。结果CD151、c-Met和整合素仪3、面在71例胰腺导管腺癌组织中的表达阳性率分别为81．69％（58／71）、69．01％（49／71）、69．01％（49／71）和84．51％（60／71）,而正常胰腺组织均未表达。CD151和c-Met的表达与肿瘤的TNM分期、淋巴结转移显著相关（P值均〈0．05）。CD151,的表达与c-Met及整合素α3、α6的表达呈正相关（r=0．583,P=0．000;r=0．457;P=0．000;r=0．671;P=0．000）。单因素分析显示,CD151、c-Met、整合素α3和α6的表达与预后有关（P值均〈0．05）。多因素分析表明,CD151、c-Met是患者术后生存时间的独立预后因子。结论CD151、c-Met及整合素α3、α6在胰腺癌的发展、转移及预后发挥重要作用,CD151、c-Met可考虑作为临床评价胰腺癌生物学行为及评估预后的指标。     

整合素α5β1、CD151在胃癌中的表达及意义

目的 探讨整合素α5β1、CD151在胃癌组织中的表达特点、相互关系以及它们在胃癌的发生、发展中的作用.方法 应用免疫组化方法同步检测80例胃癌组织及50例癌旁正常组织中的整合素α5β1、CD151的表达情况,分析二者在胃癌组织中表达的相关性以及和临床病理指标的关系.结果 ①胃癌组整合素α5β1、CD151的阳性表达率分别为60％、63.75％,均高于癌旁正常组(22％、18％)(P＜0.05).②整合素α5β1、CD151在胃癌组织的表达与胃癌的不同分化程度密切相关(P＜0.05).③整合素α5β1、CD151在胃癌中的表达强度呈正相关关系(r=0.428,P＜0.05).结论 整合素α5β1、CD151在胃癌组织中呈高表达,且与胃癌的分化程度相关,二者在胃癌组织的表达具有正相关性,它们与胃癌的发生、发展密切相关,是胃癌早期诊断和抗转移治疗新的分子靶点,可为评估肿瘤的恶性进展、判断患者预后提供依据.     

CD151和c-Met在大肠癌中的表达及临床意义

目的探讨CD151和c-Met在大肠腺癌组织中的表达及其与临床各个病理因素之间的关系。方法应用双重免疫荧光标记法对正常大肠黏膜和大肠腺癌组织各120例进行CD151和c-Met检测,及进行Kaplan-Meier生存分析。采用Spearman等级相关分析CD151和c-Met之间的相关性。结果 CD151大肠正常黏膜和腺癌组织的阳性率分别为21.7%(26/120)、72%(86/120),两者比较具有统计学意义(P<0.001)。c-Met大肠正常黏膜和腺癌组织的阳性率分别为17.5%(21/120)、60%(72/120),腺癌组织与正常黏膜比较具有统计学意义(P<0.001)。在大肠腺癌中,CD151和c-Met的表达与患者年龄、性别和肿瘤的部位、大小无相关性,与肿瘤的分化程度、浸润深度、淋巴结转移及Duke分期有关(P<0.05)。CD151和c-Met在大肠正常黏膜和腺癌组织中的表达经双变量相关分析,Spearman系数r=0.970,表达呈正相关(P<0.001)。CD151+、α3β1+、CD151+α3β1+与大肠癌患者5年生存期密切相关,是影响大肠癌预后的因素(P<0.01、P<0.05、P<0.0001)。结论 CD151和c-Met在大肠癌的表达密切相关。CD151与c-Met联合表达是大肠癌临床预后判断的可靠指标。     

CD151及整合素α6在肠癌中的表达及其与上皮间质转化的关系

目的:研究结直肠癌组织中CD151及整合素α6的表达,探讨他们与结直肠癌临床病理因素及上皮间质转化(epithelial-mesenchymal transition,EMT)的关系.方法:132例结直肠癌制成2张组织芯片,以30例癌旁组织作对照,采用免疫组织化学检测其中CD151、整合素α6及E-钙黏蛋白(E-cadherin)、波形蛋白(Vimentin)的表达,分析比较前两种蛋白与结直肠癌临床病理因素之间的关系及其与上皮间质表达标志物之间的关系.结果:结直肠癌组织中CD151及整合素α6表达阳性率分别为65.9%和75.7%,均高于癌旁组织;CD151和整合素α6的表达均与肿瘤浸润深度及淋巴结转移密切相关;CD151在结直肠癌中表达还与E-cadherin的低表达、Vimentin的高表达密切相关.结论:CD151和整合素α6通过促进EMT促进结直肠癌浸润转移,为研究结直肠癌EMT发生机制提供新的思路,同时为CD151作为肠癌的靶向治疗指标提供理论依据.     

胃癌组织中CD147和整合素α3的表达变化及意义

目的观察CD147和整合素α3在胃癌组织中的表达变化,并探讨其意义。方法采用免疫组织化学SP法检测40份正常胃黏膜组织及126例胃癌组织中CD147、整合素α3的表达,并分析两者之间及其与胃癌临床病理参数的相关性。结果 CD147和整合素α3在胃癌组织组中的阳性表达率均显著高于正常胃黏膜(P均<0.05);在有淋巴结转移胃癌者中明显高于无淋巴结转移者,在TNM分期Ⅲ～Ⅳ期者中明显高于Ⅰ～Ⅱ期者(P均<0.05),但与胃癌患者的年龄、性别及组织学类型均无明显相关性(P均>0.05);CD147与整合素α3的表达呈显著正相关(r=0.667,P<0.05)。结论胃癌组织中CD147和整合素α3表达升高,两者可能协同参与胃癌的发生和侵袭、转移,有望成为评估胃癌侵袭、转移能力的新指标及胃癌靶向治疗的新型分子靶点。     

Toll样受体9和低氧诱导因子1α在胰腺癌中的表达及其意义

目的 研究Toll样受体9(TLR9)和低氧诱导因子1α(HIF-1 α)在胰腺癌组织中的表达,探讨其临床意义.方法 采用实时定量PCR法、蛋白质印迹法及免疫组织化学法检测30例胰腺癌组织及其相邻癌旁组织、10例正常胰腺组织中TLR9和HIF-1α的表达,分析两者表达的相关性、与肿瘤临床病理特征的关系以及对患者生存时间的影响.结果 胰腺癌TLR9 mRNA及HIF-1αmRNA表达量分别为正常胰腺组织的2.32(1.41～3.22)倍和2.26(1.62～2.89)倍,癌旁组织表达量分别为正常胰腺组织的1.23(1.18 ～1.28)倍和1.36(1.17～1.55)倍,胰腺癌的表达量显著高于癌旁组织(t=2.642,P=0.023;t=4.076,P=0.001).胰腺癌组织TLR9和HIF-1α蛋白阳性表达率分别为73.3％(22/30)和70.0％(21/30),癌旁组织分别为33.3％ (10/30)和36.7％ (11/30),正常胰腺组织分别为20％(2/10)和10％(1/10),呈递减趋势(x2=13.99,P=0.001;x2=13.15,P=0.001).胰腺癌组织TLR9 mRNA与HIF-1 αmRNA表达呈正相关(r=0.537,P=0.003),TLR9和HIF-1α蛋白阳性表达率亦呈正相关(r =0.511,P=0.001).胰腺癌组织TLR9和HIF-1α表达与肿瘤分化程度、TNM分期、淋巴结转移呈正相关,与患者的生存时间呈负相关.结论 胰腺癌组织TLR9和HIF-1α基因均高表达,且与肿瘤细胞的恶性生物学行为及患者预后差有关.     

缺氧诱导因子-1α表达与胰腺癌病理学特征及新生血管生成的关系

目的研究胰腺癌组织中缺氧诱导因子-1α(HIF-1α)的表达与胰腺癌病理学特征的关系,以及HIF-1α表达与血管内皮生长因子(VEGF)和肿瘤微血管密度(MVD)之间的相互关系.方法应用免疫组织化学方法检测47例胰腺癌和10例正常胰腺组织中HIF-1α和VEGF蛋白的表达.同时用CD34单克隆抗体标记胰腺癌和正常胰腺组织中的微血管.结果HIF-1α和VEGF蛋白在47例胰腺癌组织中的阳性表达率分别为55.3%(26/47)和61.7%(29/47),而在10例正常胰腺组织中均未见表达.胰腺癌组织MVD为37.61±14.3,正常胰腺组织为7.55±2.4,二者间有显著性差别(t'=13.51,P＜0.001).HIF-1α和VEGF蛋白阳性表达率及MVD均与胰腺癌的浸润和转移密切相关(χ2=4.32,6.01,4.75,4.62;t=2.38,3.92;P＜0.05),而与胰腺肿块大小、组织学分级和患者术后1年生存率无关(P＞0.05).HIF-1α与VEGF(r=0.329,x2=5.71;P＜0.05)、HIF-1α与MVD(r=0.594,t=4.96;P＜0.001)及VEGF与MVD(r=0.366,t=2.64;P＜0.05)间在胰腺癌组织中的表达均呈显著的正相关性.结论在缺氧状态下,胰腺癌组织中HTF-1α基因被激活,过量表达HIF-1α蛋白,并通过诱导VEGF的生成而刺激肿瘤新生血管的生成,促进癌细胞的浸润和转移.     

肿瘤转移抑制基因KAI1/CD82和整合素β1在子宫内膜腺癌中表达及临床意义

目的研究KAI1/CD82与整合素β1亚基在子宫内膜腺癌中的表达以及与临床病理特征之间的关系。方法采用免疫组织化学SP法检测46例子宫内膜腺癌患者中KAI1/CD82蛋白和整合素β1亚基的表达。结果 KAI1/CD82蛋白在子宫内膜腺癌中的阳性表达率较正常子宫内膜组织降低明显(P0.01)。KAI1/CD82在子宫内膜腺癌中的阳性表达率与手术-病理分期(P=0.008)、组织学分级(P=0.001)、肌层浸润深度(P=0.017)及淋巴结转移(P=0.005)密切相关。整合素β1蛋白在子宫内膜腺癌中的阳性表达率明显高于正常子宫内膜组织(P0.001)。整合素β1在子宫内膜腺癌组中的阳性表达率与组织学分级(P=0.013)及淋巴结转移(P=0.003)密切相关。KAI1/CD82与整合素β1的表达呈负相关。结论 KAI1/CD82表达下调,同时伴整合素β1的异常表达增高,促进子宫内膜腺癌的侵袭和转移。检测其表达异常,对判断子宫内膜腺癌转移趋势、评估预后及指导治疗意义重大。     

HIF-1α和EMT相关蛋白在胰腺癌组织中的表达及临床意义

目的:探讨缺氧诱导因子-1α(HIF-1α)和上皮细胞间质转化(EMT)相关蛋白在胰腺导管腺癌(PDAC)组织中的表达及临床意义.方法:采用免疫组织化学法检测92例PDAC和10例正常胰腺组织中HIF-1α、Snail、Slug、E-cadherin、N-cadherin的表达,并分析其与患者临床病理特征和预后的关系.结果:HIF-1α、Snail、Slug、E-cadherin、N-cadherin在PDAC和正常胰腺组织中表达的阳性率分别为:69.57%,69.57%,58.70%,36.96%,73.91%;10%,0%,0%,90%,0%.HIF-1α的表达与淋巴结转移有关;Snail的表达与TNM分期有关;Slug的表达与TNM分期和淋巴结转移有关;N-cadherin的表达与TNM分期、淋巴结转移和肿瘤分化程度有关.HIF-1α表达与Snail、Slug表达呈正相关(r=0.309,P=0.005;r=0.231,P=0.027);Snail表达与E-cadherin表达呈负相关(r=-0.223,P=0.033);E-cadherin表达与N-cadherin表达呈负相关(r=-0.478,P=...     

胃癌组织CD1α和survivin表达及临床意义

目的:观察胃癌组织中树突状细胞及树突状细胞前体的分布,并探讨survivin作为胃癌生物治疗靶抗原的可能性.方法:用免疫组织化学染色对不同类型胃癌组织132例(中分化腺癌72例,低分化腺癌60例)CD1α,CD68,S100和survivin蛋白的表达进行了检测.结果:中分化腺癌CD1α表达率为33%(24/72),低分化腺癌CD1α表达率为10%(6/60),二者有显著性差异(x2=6.56,P＜0.05).中分化腺癌S100表达率为50%(36/72),低分化腺癌表达率30%(18/60),二者无显著性区别(P＞0.05).CD1α阳性胃癌组织S100表达均阳性,二者有良好的一致性.中分化腺癌CD68表达为91.6%(66/72),低分化腺癌表达率为60%(36/60),二者无显著性差别(P＞0.05),CD68和CD1α在中分化腺癌和低分化腺癌中的分布也有良好的一致性.Survivin在中分化腺癌的表达为91.7%(66/72),低分化腺癌表达为90%(54/60),二者无显著性差别(P＞0.05).结论:survivin和DC的结合在胃癌生物治疗中具有潜在而重要的应用价值,以survivin为靶抗原的胃癌个体化DC疫苗值得进一步深入研究.     

Expression and Prognostic Significance of CD151, c-Met,and Integrin alpha3/alpha6 in Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma

Background  

CD151, c-Met, and integrin alpha3/alpha6 are all involved in the hepatocyte growth factor (HGF)/c-Met signal pathway, which plays an important role in the malignant progression of tumors.     

Correlation of integrin β3 mRNA and vascular endothelial growth factor protein expression profiles with the clinicopathological features and prognosis of gastric carcinoma

AIM： To investigate integrin β3 mRNA and vascular endothelial growth factor （VEGF） protein expression in gastric carcinoma, and its correlation with microvascular density, growth-pattern, invasion, metastasis and prognosis. METHODS： In situ hybridization（ISH） of integrin β3 mRNA and immunohistochemistry of VEGF and CD34 protein were performed on samples from 118 patients with gastric cancer. RESULTS： The positive rate of integrin β3 mRNA in non-tumor gastric mucosa （20%） was significantly lower than that of the gastric cancer tissue （52.5%, X^2 = 10.20, P 〈 0.01）. In patients of infiltrating type, stage T3-T4, vessel invasion, lymphatic metastasis, hepatic or peritoneal metastasis, the positive expression rates of integrin β3 mRNA were significantly higher than those in patients of expanding type （P 〈 0.01）, stage T1-T2 （P 〈 0.01）, non-vessel invasion （P 〈 0.01）, without lymphatic metastasis （P 〈 0.01）, without hepatic and peritoneal metastasis （P 〈 0.01）, respectively. In patients of infiltrating type, stage T3-T4, vessel invasion, lymphatic metastasis, hepatic or peritoneal metastasis, the positive expression rates of VEGF protein were significantly higher than those in patients of expanding type （P 〈 0.01）, stage T1-T2 （P 〈 0.01）, non-vessel invasion （P 〈 0.01）, without lymphatic metastasis （P 〈 0.01）, without hepatic and peritoneal metastasis （P 〈 0.01）, respectively. In patients of infiltrating type, stage T3-T4, vessel invasion, lymphatic metastasis, hepatic or peritoneal metastasis, the mean MVD were significantly higher than those in patients of expanding type （P 〈 0.01）, stage T1-T2 （P 〈 0.01）, non-vessel invasion （P 〈 0.01）, without lymphatic metastasis （P 〈 0.01）, without hepatic and peritoneal metastasis （P 〈 0.01）, respectively. It was found that the positive expression rate of integrin β3 mRNA was positively related to that of VEGF protein （P 〈 0.01） and MVD （P 〈 0.05）,     

Potentiation of the ligand-binding activity of integrin alpha3beta1 via association with tetraspanin CD151

CD151, one of the tetraspanins, forms a stable complex with integrin alpha3beta1, the major laminin receptor on the cell surface. We found that 8C3, an anti-CD151 mAb obtained by screening for reactivity with integrin alpha3beta1-CD151 complexes, was capable of dissociating CD151 from integrin alpha3beta1, thereby allowing us to deplete CD151 from purified integrin alpha3beta1-CD151 complexes. The CD151-free integrin alpha3beta1 thus obtained showed a significant reduction in its ability to bind to laminin-10/11, a high-affinity ligand for integrin alpha3beta1, with a concomitant reduction in its reactivity with mAb AG89, which recognizes activated beta1-containing integrins. These results raised the possibility that the association of integrin alpha3beta1 with CD151 potentiates the ligand-binding activity of the integrin through sustaining its activated conformation. In support of this possibility, the ligand-binding activity was restored when CD151-free integrin alpha3beta1 was reassociated with purified CD151. 8C3-induced dissociation of CD151 from integrin alpha3beta1 was also demonstrated on the surface of living cells by fluorescent resonance energy transfer imaging, accompanied by a concomitant reduction in the cell adhesion to laminin-10/11-coated substrates. CD151 knock-down by RNA interference also resulted in a reduction in the adhesive activity of the cells. Taken together, these results indicate that CD151 association modulates the ligand-binding activity of integrin alpha3beta1 through stabilizing its activated conformation not only with purified proteins but also in a physiological context.     

Tetraspanin CD151 expression associated with prognosis for patients with advanced gastric cancer

Purpose

Tetraspanin CD151 is known to be involved in cancer invasion and metastasis, and its overexpression appears to be associated with a poor prognosis for various types of cancer. However, the expression status of CD151 and its prognostic impact in advanced gastric cancer (AGC) has not yet been clarified.

Methods

Immunohistochemistry was used to investigate the expression of CD151, c-erbB2, and c-Met in 159 cases of AGC. The clinicopathological and prognostic significance of these biomarkers were then evaluated.

Results

The overexpression of CD151 was observed in a subset of advanced gastric adenocarcinomas (25.8 %), and c-erbB2 and c-Met were overexpressed in 15.1 and 35.2 % of the cohort, respectively. CD151 overexpression was more frequently observed in tumors from younger patients (P = 0.028). There were close associations between CD151 and c-erbB2 overexpression (P = 0.033) and between c-erbB2 and c-Met overexpression (P = 0.001). CD151 overexpression was closely correlated with patient’ overall survival (OS; P < 0.001) and disease-free survival (DFS; P < 0.001). Furthermore, the expression rate of CD151 seemed to increase gradually according to the depth of invasion (T stage) (χ ² test for trend; P = 0.101), N stage (P = 0.238), and pathologic stage (P = 0.153), although trends were not statistically significant. In a multivariate analysis, CD151 overexpression was an independent prognostic factor predicting worse OS (P = 0.002) and DFS (P = 0.005), along with the T and N stage.

Conclusions

CD151 was found to be an independent prognostic marker for patients with AGC.     

Expression and clinical significance of TAp73α, p53, PCNA and apoptosis in hepatocellular carcinoma

AIM: To study the prognostic role of TAp73α, p53,proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) and apoptosis in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) after surgical tumor ablation.METHODS: Forty-seven human resected HCC tissues and 42 adjacent non-cancerous tissues were studied with 10 normal liver tissues as control group. TAp73α, p53, and PCNA were detected with Elivision immunohistochemistry.Terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase (TdT)-mediated d-UTP-biotin nick-end labeling (TUNEL) method was used to detect the apoptosis cells. All clinical and pathological materials were analyzed by SPSS10.0statistical package.RESULTS: TAp73α overexpressed in HCC tissues (36.2%)when compared with adjacent non-cancerous tissues(2.38%, P&lt;0.005) and normal liver tissues (0, P&lt;0.01).Mutant type p53 (rot-p53) overexpressed in HCC tissues(38.3%) when contracted with adjacent non-cancerous tissues (16.7%, P&lt;0.05) and normal liver tissues (0,P&lt;0.01). Proliferation index (PI) level in HCC tissues was significantly higher than that in adjacent non-cancerous tissues (30.34%&#177;4.46% vs27.88%&#177;5.89%, t, P= 0.028).Apoptosis index (AI) level in HCC tissues was higher than that in adjacent non-cancerous tissues (8.62%&#177;2.28%vs7.38%&#177;2.61%, t, P = 0.019). Expression of TAp73α was associated with lymph node metastasis and rot-p53,with r = 0.407 and 0.265, respectively. Expression of rot-p53 was associated with Edmondson‘s stage and AFP,with r = 0.295 and -0.357, respectively. In Kaplan-Meier univariant analysis, TAp73α, AFP, TNM stage, portal vein invasion, liver membrane invasion and HBsAg correlated with prognosis (log rank, P= 0.039, 0.012, 0.002, 0.000,0.014, 0.007, respectively). Multivariant Cox regression analysis showed that TAp73α, AFP, TNM stage, portalve in invasion, liver membrane invasion and age were independent factors of prognosis.CONCLUSION: These results suggest that TAp73α can be used as a prognostic indicator of patients with HCC undergoing surgical tumor ablation. AFP, TNM, portal vein invasion, liver membrane invasion and age also have a potency of predicting the prognosis of HCC.     

非小细胞肺癌中MMP-2、CD44V6的表达及其临床意义

目的 探讨细胞黏附因子（CD44V6）和基质金属蛋白酶-2（MMP-2）在非小细胞肺癌（NSCLC）组织中的表达及其与肺癌浸润、转移和预后的关系。方法 回顾性分析43例术前未进行放、化疗的肺癌患者的切除标本，采用免疫组化SP法检测肺癌组织中的CD44V6和MMP-2的表达。结果 肺鳞癌与肺腺癌中CD44V6的阳性表达率分别为58．33％（14／24）和68．42％（13／19）；MMP-2的阳性表达率分别为54．16％（13／24）和84．21％（16／19）。CD44V6与MMP-2的阳性表达与淋巴结转移、肺癌病理分期以及术后血行转移显著相关（P〈0．05），CD44V6阳性表达者的3年生存率为25．62％，5年生存率为6．41％；阴性表达者的3年生存率为64．71％，5年生存率为56．82％，两者差异显著（P=0．000）。MMP-2阳性者的3年生存率为18．8％，5年生存率为8．67％；阴性表达者的3年生存率为66．30％，5年生存率为42．66％，两者差异显著（P=0．0067）。CD44V6和MMP-2的阳性表达呈显著性相关（P：0．007）。结论CD44V6和MMP-2对于肺癌的侵袭、淋巴结转移、术后血行转移以及预后有一定作用。     

Expression,regulation, and function of alpha V integrins in hepatocellular carcinoma: an in vivo and in vitro study

The expression of alpha V integrins by neoplastic cells contributes to the promotion of local invasion and metastasis. The most characteristic extracellular ligands of alpha V integrins are vitronectin and fibronectin. Hepatocytes are the main source of vitronectin, and the capacity to synthesize and secrete vitronectin is usually retained in hepatocellular carcinoma. The aim of this study was to explore the expression, regulation, and functional role of alpha V integrins in hepatocellular carcinoma. We first analyzed the expression of alpha V integrins and their ligands fibronectin and vitronectin in 80 cases of hepatocellular carcinoma. alpha V integrin chain was detected in 44 cases and vitronectin in 50. Twenty-four of the 44 alpha V-positive tumors contained large amounts of vitronectin. These cases presented more frequently with adverse histoprognostic factors, including infiltrative growth pattern (62.5%), lack of capsule (71%), presence of capsular invasion (57%), and satellite nodules (50%). We then used HepG2 and Hep3B cell lines as in vitro models to study alpha V integrin regulation and function. HepG2 and Hep3B cells expressed alpha V integrin chain and used alpha V beta 1 and alpha V beta 5 for adhesion and migration on vitronectin. Tumor necrosis factor (TNF) alpha and transforming growth factor (TGF) beta significantly increased the expression levels of alpha V integrins and stimulated the adhesion and migration of both HepG2 and Hep3B cell lines on vitronectin. The effects of growth factors on cell adhesion and migration were reproduced by incubation with conditioned medium from rat liver myofibroblasts. In conclusion, our results support the existence of an alpha V integrin/vitronectin connection in hepatocellular carcinoma and suggest that this connection may be an adverse prognostic factor.     

Prognostic signif icance of HIF-2α/EPAS1 expression in hepatocellular carcinoma

AIM: To evaluate the prognostic signif icance of HIF- 2α/EPAS1 expression in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). METHODS: Surgical specimens from 315 patients with HCC as well as 196 adjacent noncancerous lesions and 22 cases of normal liver tissue were investigated by immunohistochemistry (IHC) for HIF-2α/EPAS1 using a standard detection system. Correlations with clinicopathological factors, VEGF, microvessel density (MVD), and prognosis were analyzed. RESULTS: Immunoreactivity of HIF-2α/EPAS1 was positive in 69.5% of HCC, 55.6% of adjacent noncancerous tissue, and 0% of normal liver tissue. And it was significantly correlated with tumor grade, venous invasion, intrahepatic metastasis, necrosis, and capsule infiltration. Correlation analysis of HIF-2α/EPAS1 with angiogenic factor VEGF (P < 0.001), and MVD (P = 0.016) was also noted. HIF-2α/EPAS1 protein was less frequently expressed in low MVD cases, whereas a high rate of expression was noted in cases with both medium and high MVD (P = 0.042). By Kaplan-Meier analysis, strong HIF-2α/EPAS1 staining (> 50% of tumor cells) in HCC correlated with a shortened survival in patients (Cox's regression, P < 0.001, r = 3.699). CONCLUSION: We conclude that HIF-2α/EPAS1 expression may play an important role in tumor progression and prognosis of HCC. Assessment of HIF-2α/EPAS1 expression in HCC may be used as a diagnostic tool and possibly a target in the treatment of HCC.