Tissue Factor Expression Correlates with Tumor Angiogenesis and Invasiveness in Human Hepatocellular Carcinoma

• Published in: Clinical cancer research 2003-11, Vol.9 (14), p.5339-5345
• Main Authors: POON, Ronnie Tung-Ping, LAU, Cecilia Pik-Yuk, HO, Joanna Wen-Ying, YU, Wan-Ching, FAN, Sheung-Tat, WONG, John
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adolescent; Adult; Aged; Antigens, CD34 - metabolism; Biological and medical sciences; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular - blood supply; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular - metabolism; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular - pathology; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; Female; Follow-Up Studies; Gastroenterology. Liver. Pancreas. Abdomen; Humans; Immunoenzyme Techniques; Liver Neoplasms - blood supply; Liver Neoplasms - metabolism; Liver Neoplasms - pathology; Liver. Biliary tract. Portal circulation. Exocrine pancreas; Male; Medical sciences; Middle Aged; Neoplasm Invasiveness - pathology; Neoplasm Staging; Neovascularization, Pathologic - metabolism; Prognosis; Prospective Studies; Thromboplastin - metabolism; Tumors; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A - metabolism
• ISSN: 1078-0432; 1557-3265

Purpose: Recent studies have shown that tissue factor (TF) may be involved in tumor angiogenesis and metastasis. The role of TF in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) was unknown. This study evaluated whether TF expression correlates with microvessel density (MVD), vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) expression, tumor invasiveness, and prognosis in human HCC. Experimental Design: Tissue samples were obtained from 58 specimens of resected HCC. Immunohistochemical expression of TF was examined, and tumor MVD was evaluated using CD34 as the endothelial marker. TF and VEGF protein levels in the tumor cytosol were quantified by ELISA. Clinicopathologic and follow-up data of patients were prospectively collected. Results: The immunohistochemical expression of TF in the tumors correlated significantly with tumor MVD ( P = 0.002). The median cytosolic TF protein level in the tumors was 720 pg/mg total protein (range, 67–2406 pg/mg total protein). A significant positive correlation was found between TF and VEGF levels in the tumor cytosol ( r = 0.475, P < 0.001). High tumor cytosolic TF level was associated with venous invasion ( P = 0.004), microsatellite nodules ( P = 0.024), unencapsulated tumor ( P = 0.007), and advanced tumor stage ( P = 0.010). A higher than median tumor cytosolic TF level was an independent predictor of poor survival (risk ratio, 1.836; 95% confidence interval 1.130–5.312, P = 0.023). Conclusions: This study shows that TF is related to tumor angiogenesis and invasiveness in HCC. Evaluation of tumor TF expression may be useful as a prognostic indicator in patients with HCC.