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Gao F, Mu W, Fan J, Shen J. β-arrestin2 promotes angiogenesis of liver sinusoidal endothelial cells through the VEGF/VEGFR2 pathway to aggravate cirrhosis. Toxicol Lett 2024; 401:1-12. [PMID: 39197505 DOI: 10.1016/j.toxlet.2024.08.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/11/2024] [Revised: 07/24/2024] [Accepted: 08/21/2024] [Indexed: 09/01/2024]
Abstract
Excessive extracellular matrix deposition and increased intrahepatic angiogenesis are prominent features of cirrhosis. β-arrestin2 is thought to be involved in the pathological processes of various fibrotic diseases. This study aimed to investigate the role and possible mechanism of β-arrestin2 in the angiogenesis of cirrhosis. Firstly, β-arrestin2 expression in liver tissues of cirrhotic patients was detected, and the correlation between β-arrestin2 and α-SMA, CD-31, PDGF, and VEGF indexes was analyzed. Then, after liver cirrhosis induced by CCL4 in Arrb2-KO mice (β-arrestin2 coding gene), liver histopathological changes were observed, and the expressions of α-SMA, CD-31, PDGF, VEGF, and VEGFR2 were detected. Finally, VEGF-A was used to treat human liver sinusoidal endothelial cells (LSECs) to simulate pathological conditions. After transfection with si-ARRB2, the cell activity, MDA and GSH-PX activities, cell invasion, angiogenesis, and the expressions of α-SMA, CD-31, and VEGF/VEGFR2 pathway were detected. Results showed that β-arrestin2 expression in the liver increased significantly during cirrhosis and was positively correlated with angiogenesis. In vivo, Arrb2-KO significantly inhibited fibrosis and angiogenesis in cirrhotic mice, and decreased the expressions of α-SMA, CD31, PDGF, VEGF, and VEGFR2. Studies using LSECs in vitro showed that after intervention of ARRB2, the activity of LSECs and the number of invasions and tubule formations were significantly reduced. Similarly, after transfection with si-ARRB2, the expressions of α-SMA, CD31, PDGF, VEGF, and VEGFR2 in LSECs were significantly decreased. Collectively, β-arrestin2 aggravated cirrhosis by promoting the angiogenesis of LSECs. Blocking β-arrestin2 may be an important target against angiogenesis and fibrosis in cirrhosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Feng Gao
- Department of Interventional Therapy, Shanxi Provincial People's Hospital, Taiyuan 030012, China
| | - Wei Mu
- Department of Interventional Therapy, Shanxi Provincial People's Hospital, Taiyuan 030012, China
| | - Jiangbo Fan
- Department of Interventional Therapy, Shanxi Provincial People's Hospital, Taiyuan 030012, China
| | - Jing Shen
- Department of Interventional Therapy, Shanxi Provincial People's Hospital, Taiyuan 030012, China.
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2
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Desjonqueres E, Campani C, Marra F, Zucman-Rossi J, Nault JC. Preneoplastic lesions in the liver: Molecular insights and relevance for clinical practice. Liver Int 2022; 42:492-506. [PMID: 34982503 DOI: 10.1111/liv.15152] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/07/2021] [Revised: 12/20/2021] [Accepted: 12/22/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and cholangiocarcinoma (CCA) are the most frequent primary liver cancers, accounting for approximately 80% and 15%, respectively. HCC carcinogenesis occurs mostly in cirrhosis and is a complex multi-step process, from precancerous lesions (low-grade and high-grade dysplastic nodules) to progressed HCC. During the different stages of liver carcinogenesis, there is an accumulation of pathological, genetic and epigenetic changes leading to initiation, malignant transformation and finally tumour progression. In contrast, a small subset of HCC occurs in normal liver from the transformation of hepatocellular adenoma (HCA), a benign hepatocellular tumour. The recent molecular classification enables to stratify HCAs according to their risk of complication, in particular malignant transformation, associated with mutations in exon 3 of the catenin beta 1 (CTNNB1) gene. Cholangiocarcinoma (CCA) derives from the multistep malignant transformation of preneoplastic lesions, like biliary intraepithelial neoplasia (BilIN) and intraductal papillary neoplasm of the bile duct (IPNB), for which a pre-operative diagnosis remains difficult. Different genetic alterations are involved in BilIN and IPNB progression, leading to the development of tubular or intestinal adenocarcinoma. The aims of this review are to describe the main clinical and molecular features of preneoplastic lesions leading to the development of HCC and CCA, their implications in clinical practice and the perspectives for future research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elvire Desjonqueres
- Service d'hépatologie, Hôpital Avicenne, Hôpitaux Universitaires Paris-Seine-Saint-Denis, Assistance-Publique Hôpitaux de Paris, Bobigny, France.,Unité de Formation et de Recherche Santé Médecine et Biologie Humaine, Université Paris 13, Communauté d'Universités et Etablissements Sorbonne Paris Cité, Paris, France.,Centre de Recherche des Cordeliers, Sorbonne Université, Inserm, Université de Paris, team « Functional Genomics of Solid Tumors », Paris, France.,Equipe labellisée Ligue Nationale Contre le Cancer, Labex OncoImmunology, Paris, France
| | - Claudia Campani
- Unité de Formation et de Recherche Santé Médecine et Biologie Humaine, Université Paris 13, Communauté d'Universités et Etablissements Sorbonne Paris Cité, Paris, France.,Centre de Recherche des Cordeliers, Sorbonne Université, Inserm, Université de Paris, team « Functional Genomics of Solid Tumors », Paris, France.,Equipe labellisée Ligue Nationale Contre le Cancer, Labex OncoImmunology, Paris, France.,Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, University of Florence, Florence, Italy
| | - Fabio Marra
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, University of Florence, Florence, Italy
| | - Jessica Zucman-Rossi
- Centre de Recherche des Cordeliers, Sorbonne Université, Inserm, Université de Paris, team « Functional Genomics of Solid Tumors », Paris, France.,Equipe labellisée Ligue Nationale Contre le Cancer, Labex OncoImmunology, Paris, France.,Hôpital Européen Georges Pompidou, APHP, Paris, France
| | - Jean-Charles Nault
- Service d'hépatologie, Hôpital Avicenne, Hôpitaux Universitaires Paris-Seine-Saint-Denis, Assistance-Publique Hôpitaux de Paris, Bobigny, France.,Unité de Formation et de Recherche Santé Médecine et Biologie Humaine, Université Paris 13, Communauté d'Universités et Etablissements Sorbonne Paris Cité, Paris, France.,Centre de Recherche des Cordeliers, Sorbonne Université, Inserm, Université de Paris, team « Functional Genomics of Solid Tumors », Paris, France.,Equipe labellisée Ligue Nationale Contre le Cancer, Labex OncoImmunology, Paris, France
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3
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Zhen Z, Shen Z, Hu Y, Sun P. Screening and identification of angiogenesis-related genes as potential novel prognostic biomarkers of hepatocellular carcinoma through bioinformatics analysis. Aging (Albany NY) 2021; 13:17707-17733. [PMID: 34252885 PMCID: PMC8312452 DOI: 10.18632/aging.203260] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/03/2020] [Accepted: 06/23/2021] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a malignant tumor with high morbidity and mortality, which makes the prognostic prediction challenging. Angiogenesis appears to be of critical importance in the progression and metastasis of HCC. Some of the angiogenesis-related genes promote this process, while other anti-angiogenesis genes suppress tumor growth and metastasis. Therefore, the comprehensive prognostic value of multiple angiogenesis-related genes in HCC needs to be further clarified. In this study, the mRNA expression profile of HCC patients and the corresponding clinical data were acquired from multiple public databases. Univariate Cox regression analysis was utilized to screen out differentially expressed angiogenesis-related genes with prognostic value. A multigene signature was established with the least absolute shrinkage and selection operator Cox regression in the Cancer Genome Atlas cohort, and validated through an independent cohort. The results suggested that a total of 16 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were associated with overall survival (OS) and a 7-gene signature was constructed. The risk score of each patient was calculated using this signature, the median value of which was used to divide these patients into a high-risk group and a low-risk group. Compared with the low-risk group, the patients in the high-risk group had a poor prognosis. The risk score was an independent predictor for OS through multivariate Cox regression analysis. Then, unsupervised learning was used to verify the validity of this 7-gene signature. A nomogram by further integrating clinical information and the prognostic signature was utilized to predict prognostic risk and individual OS. Functional enrichment analyses demonstrated that these DEGs were enriched in the pathways of cell proliferation and mitosis, and the immune cell infiltration was significantly different between the two risk groups. In summary, a novel angiogenesis-related genes signature could be used to predict the prognosis of HCC and for targeted therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zili Zhen
- Center for Tumor Diagnosis and Therapy, Jinshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai 201508, China.,Department of General Surgery, Jinshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai 201508, China.,Department of Surgery, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, China
| | - Zhemin Shen
- Department of General Surgery, Jinshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai 201508, China.,Department of Surgery, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, China
| | - Yanmei Hu
- Department of Paediatrics, the Second Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun 130041, Jilin, China
| | - Peilong Sun
- Center for Tumor Diagnosis and Therapy, Jinshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai 201508, China.,Department of General Surgery, Jinshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai 201508, China
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4
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Jeng KS, Sheen IS, Lin SS, Leu CM, Chang CF. The Role of Endoglin in Hepatocellular Carcinoma. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:ijms22063208. [PMID: 33809908 PMCID: PMC8004096 DOI: 10.3390/ijms22063208] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/11/2021] [Revised: 03/19/2021] [Accepted: 03/19/2021] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Endoglin (CD105) is a type-1 integral transmembrane glycoprotein and coreceptor for transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β) ligands. The endoglin/TGF-β signaling pathway regulates hemostasis, cell proliferation/migration, extracellular matrix (ECM) synthesis and angiogenesis. Angiogenesis contributes to early progression, invasion, postoperative recurrence, and metastasis in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), one of the most widespread malignancies globally. Endoglin is overexpressed in newly formed HCC microvessels. It increases microvessel density in cirrhotic and regenerative HCC nodules. In addition, circulating endoglin is present in HCC patients, suggesting potential for use as a diagnostic or prognostic factor. HCC angiogenesis is dynamic and endoglin expression varies by stage. TRC105 (carotuximab) is an antibody against endoglin, and three of its clinical trials were related to liver diseases. A partial response was achieved when combining TRC105 with sorafenib. Although antiangiogenic therapy still carries some risks, combination therapy with endoglin inhibitors or other targeted therapies holds promise.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kuo-Shyang Jeng
- Division of General Surgery, Far Eastern Memorial Hospital, New Taipei 22060, Taiwan; (K.-S.J.); (S.-S.L.)
| | - I-Shyan Sheen
- Department of Hepatogastroenterology, Chang-Gung Memorial Hospital, Linkou Medical Center, Chang-Gung University, Taoyuan city 33305, Taiwan;
| | - Shu-Sheng Lin
- Division of General Surgery, Far Eastern Memorial Hospital, New Taipei 22060, Taiwan; (K.-S.J.); (S.-S.L.)
| | - Chuen-Miin Leu
- Institute of Microbiology and Immunology, National Yang-Ming Chiao-Tung University, Taipei city 11221, Taiwan;
| | - Chiung-Fang Chang
- Division of General Surgery, Far Eastern Memorial Hospital, New Taipei 22060, Taiwan; (K.-S.J.); (S.-S.L.)
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +886-2-7728-4564
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Fei ZY, Wang WS, Li SF, Zi JJ, Yang L, Liu T, Ao S, Liu QQ, Cui QH, Yu M, Xiong W. High expression of the TEFM gene predicts poor prognosis in hepatocellular carcinoma. J Gastrointest Oncol 2020; 11:1291-1304. [PMID: 33457002 PMCID: PMC7807266 DOI: 10.21037/jgo-20-120] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/21/2020] [Accepted: 09/25/2020] [Indexed: 01/10/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Mitochondrial transcription elongation factor (TEFM) is an essential molecule that regulates the replication-transcription switch of mitochondrial DNA. TEFM modulates both transcription elongation and RNA processing in mitochondria. The purpose of the present study was to determine the association of TEFM with tumor progression and prognosis in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) patients. METHODS The different protein expression level of TEFM among HCC cell lines was detected by Western blotting. The gene expression profiling interactive analysis (GEPIA) was used to dynamically analyze the mRNA expression of TEFM gene in different stages of HCC. The protein and mRNA expression levels of TEFM were detected by immunohistochemistry, Western blotting and qRT-PCR. The mRNA-SeqV2 expression of TEFM and clinical information of HCC patients were downloaded from the TCGA database by using R3.6.3 software. Next, the relationships between the expression level of TEFM and clinicopathological characteristics and the prognostic value of TEFM were analyzed. A Cox regression model was used for multivariate analysis of the factors that affected the prognosis of HCC. Finally, the association between the expression levels of TEFM and other mitochondrial regulatory genes and HCC biomarker genes was analyzed by GEPIA. RESULTS TEFM is upregulated in HCC cell lines compared to noncancerous liver cell line. TEFM protein and mRNA expression levels in HCC tissues were significantly upregulated compared with those in noncancerous liver tissues. In addition, the mRNA expression level of TEFM was significantly correlated with sex, serum AFP level, and vascular invasion (P<0.05). Further analysis showed that high expression level of TEFM was unfavorable in terms of the prognosis of patients with HCC. Cox multivariate regression analysis showed that patient age, vascular invasion, and TEFM expression were independent factors affecting the prognosis of HCC patients (P<0.05). The expression level of the TEFM gene was significantly positively correlated with the expression of multiple mitochondrial regulatory genes and biomarker genes of HCC (P<0.01, R>0). CONCLUSIONS Our findings reveal that TEFM may play an important role in the progression of HCC. More importantly, the elevated expression of TEFM may potentially predict poor overall survival (OS) and disease-free survival (DFS) in patients with HCC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zai-Yi Fei
- School of Life Sciences, Yunnan University, Kunming, China
- Key Laboratory for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology of High Education in Yunnan Province, Yunnan University, Kunming, China
| | - Wei-Si Wang
- College of Basic Medical Sciences, Dali University, Dali, China
- Key Laboratory for Clinical Biochemistry of High Education in Yunnan Province, Dali University, Dali, China
| | - Su-Fen Li
- College of Basic Medical Sciences, Dali University, Dali, China
- Key Laboratory for Clinical Biochemistry of High Education in Yunnan Province, Dali University, Dali, China
| | - Jia-Ji Zi
- College of Basic Medical Sciences, Dali University, Dali, China
| | - Li Yang
- School of Life Sciences, Yunnan University, Kunming, China
- Key Laboratory for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology of High Education in Yunnan Province, Yunnan University, Kunming, China
| | - Ting Liu
- School of Life Sciences, Yunnan University, Kunming, China
- Key Laboratory for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology of High Education in Yunnan Province, Yunnan University, Kunming, China
| | - Song Ao
- School of Life Sciences, Yunnan University, Kunming, China
- Key Laboratory for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology of High Education in Yunnan Province, Yunnan University, Kunming, China
| | - Qian-Qian Liu
- School of Life Sciences, Yunnan University, Kunming, China
- Key Laboratory for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology of High Education in Yunnan Province, Yunnan University, Kunming, China
| | - Qing-Hua Cui
- School of Life Sciences, Yunnan University, Kunming, China
- Key Laboratory for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology of High Education in Yunnan Province, Yunnan University, Kunming, China
| | - Min Yu
- School of Life Sciences, Yunnan University, Kunming, China
- Key Laboratory for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology of High Education in Yunnan Province, Yunnan University, Kunming, China
| | - Wei Xiong
- College of Basic Medical Sciences, Dali University, Dali, China
- Key Laboratory for Clinical Biochemistry of High Education in Yunnan Province, Dali University, Dali, China
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6
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Zhang J, Yuan B, Zhang H, Li H. Human epithelial ovarian cancer cells expressing CD105, CD44 and CD106 surface markers exhibit increased invasive capacity and drug resistance. Oncol Lett 2019; 17:5351-5360. [PMID: 31186752 PMCID: PMC6507388 DOI: 10.3892/ol.2019.10221] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/27/2017] [Accepted: 02/14/2019] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
The high rate of mortality associated with ovarian cancer (OC) is due in part to the development of resistance to chemotherapy, which allows the resistant tumour cells to invade and metastasise. Clarifying the mechanistic basis for drug resistance may reveal novel avenues for treatment. The present study investigated the mechanism of paclitaxel (PTX) resistance in human epithelial OC by evaluating the expression of stem cell-associated cell surface markers endoglin (CD105), CD44 antigen and vascular cell adhesion molecule 1 (CD106), in association with the malignant potential of the human OC OVCAR3 cell line and its PTX-resistant derivative OC3/TAX300. The expression of CD105, CD44 and CD106 was detected by reverse transcription quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) and flow cytometry, and cell invasion was evaluated using a Transwell invasion assay. CD105, CD44 and CD106 levels were increased in OC3/TAX300 cells compared with the OVCAR3 cells, as determined by flow cytometry (P<0.01) and RT-qPCR (P<0.05). Additionally, the number of invading cells was increased in the OC3/TAX300 group compared with the OVCAR3 group (54.7±6.65 vs. 31.8±6.55; P<0.01). A western blot analysis of cell surface marker expression in 80 clinical epithelial OC tissue samples, differing in terms of sensitivity to drug treatments, disease stage and degree of differentiation, revealed that high CD105, CD44 or CD106 expression was associated with drug resistance, advanced disease stage, poor differentiation and high rate of recurrence. These data indicated that exposure to high doses of PTX enhanced the stem-like properties of OC cells, which are associated with drug resistance and invasion and lead to poor prognosis due to induced chemoresistance and/or metastasis. Therefore, CD105, CD44 and CD106 may serve as potential stem cell-associated cell surface and prognostic markers, and therapeutic targets, in OC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jin Zhang
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Beijing Shijitan Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing 100038, P.R. China
| | - Baozhu Yuan
- Cell Collection and Research Centre, National Institutes for Food and Drug Control, Beijing 100050, P.R. China
| | - Huidan Zhang
- Department of Gynaecology, Beijing Maternal and Child Health Hospital of Haidian District, Beijing 100080, P.R. China
| | - Hongxia Li
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Beijing Shijitan Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing 100038, P.R. China
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7
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Kasprzak A, Adamek A. Role of Endoglin (CD105) in the Progression of Hepatocellular Carcinoma and Anti-Angiogenic Therapy. Int J Mol Sci 2018; 19:E3887. [PMID: 30563158 PMCID: PMC6321450 DOI: 10.3390/ijms19123887] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/19/2018] [Revised: 12/02/2018] [Accepted: 12/03/2018] [Indexed: 02/08/2023] Open
Abstract
The liver is perfused by both arterial and venous blood, with a resulting abnormal microenvironment selecting for more-aggressive malignancies. Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the most frequent primary liver cancer, the sixth most common cancer globally, and the third leading cause of cancer-related mortality worldwide. HCC is characterized by its hypervascularization. Improving the efficiency of anti-angiogenic treatment and mitigation of anti-angiogenic drug resistance are the top priorities in the development of non-surgical HCC therapies. Endoglin (CD105), a transmembrane glycoprotein, is one of the transforming growth factor β (TGF-β) co-receptors. Involvement of that protein in angiogenesis of solid tumours is well documented. Endoglin is a marker of activated endothelial cells (ECs), and is preferentially expressed in the angiogenic endothelium of solid tumours, including HCC. HCC is associated with changes in CD105-positive ECs within and around the tumour. The large spectrum of endoglin effects in the liver is cell-type- and HCC- stage-specific. High expression of endoglin in non-tumour tissue suggests that this microenvironment might play an especially important role in the progression of HCC. Evaluation of tissue expression, as well as serum concentrations of this glycoprotein in HCC, tends to confirm its role as an important biomarker in HCC diagnosis and prognosis. The role of endoglin in liver fibrosis and HCC progression also makes it an attractive therapeutic target. Despite these facts, the exact molecular mechanisms of endoglin functioning in hepatocarcinogenesis are still poorly understood. This review summarizes the current data concerning the role and signalling pathways of endoglin in hepatocellular carcinoma development and progression, and provides an overview of the strategies available for a specific targeting of CD105 in anti-angiogenic therapy in HCC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aldona Kasprzak
- Department of Histology and Embryology, University of Medical Sciences, Poznań 60-781, Poland.
| | - Agnieszka Adamek
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Hepatology and Acquired Immunodeficiencies, University of Medical Sciences, Poznań 61-285, Poland.
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