[Expression of ESM-1 in hepatocellular carcinoma is associated with angiogenesis and tumor invasion]

To study the expression and significance of endothelial cell specific molecule-1 (ESM-1) in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) tissue and serum from HCC patients.

The ESM-1 expression was evaluated by immunohistochemistry staining and quantitative real-time PCR in 30 tumor tissues from HCC patients, 15 surrounding non-cancerous hepatic parenchyma, and 15 normal controls. Serum levels of ESM-1 were also measured in the HCC patients and healthy controls by Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA).

ESM-1 was expressed in endothelium of 24 HCC tissues and 6 pericarcinomatous tissues, however, it was not expressed in normal liver tissues. The mRNA level of ESM-1 was 0.064 +/- 0.018, 0.383 +/- 0.103, 0.528 +/- 0.148 in the corresponding tissues, respectively. The mRNA level of ESM-1 in tissues was correlated with the TNM phase of HCC patients, tumor vascular invasion as well as metastasis. The serum ESM-1 was (12.643 +/- 2.280) ng/ml and (4.660 +/- 1.172) ng/ml in hepatic cell carcinoma and normal controls, respectively.

The expression of ESM-1 is significantly up-regulated in HCC, suggesting that ESM-1 may play an important role in the pathoigenesis of HCC.