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. 2024 Dec 1;25(12):4137-4144.
doi: 10.31557/APJCP.2024.25.12.4137.

Potential Role of the Tie2/ Angiopoietin System in Hepatitis C Virus- Induced Hepatocellular Carcinoma

Rabab Fouad  1 , Bothaina Madkour  1 , Manal Zahran  1 , Ali Abdel Rahim  2 , Dalia Salem  3 , Omar Nassar  4 , Shereen Elnashar  5 , Ola Mahmoud  1
Affiliations

Potential Role of the Tie2/ Angiopoietin System in Hepatitis C Virus- Induced Hepatocellular Carcinoma

Rabab Fouad et al. Asian Pac J Cancer Prev. .

Abstract

Background: The Tie2/Ang pathway was found to be involved in forming tumor blood vessels in various tumors. The goal of this study was to evaluate the value of Tie2/Ang pathway as a novel biomarkers for the early detection of chronic hepatitis C virus (CHC)-related hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). And the possibility of their future application in HCC treatment.

Methods: Flow cytometry was performed to identify and count Tie2 expressing monocytes (TEMs) in peripheral blood monocytes from HCC patients (n = 25), CHC cirrhotic patients (n = 25) and healthy volunteers (n = 25). In addition, Angiopoietin 1 and 2 (Ang) levels in the serum were determined by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELIZA).

Results: Percentage of TEMs in peripheral blood monocytes, serum Ang2 levels and Ang2/Ang1 ratio significantly increased in HCC patients compared with CHC patients and healthy controls (P< 0.001). However significant increase was only noticed in serum Ang1 levels in HCC group compared to the control group (P <0.05).

Conclusions: TEMs may promote angiogenesis in HCC regarding the Ang2/Tie2 signal pathway. Percentage of TEMs in peripheral blood monocytes, Ang2 serum levels and Ang2/Ang1 ratio may be applied as a biomarkers for identifying CHC-related HCC. Moreover, inhibiting the proangiogenic functions of this pathway may represent a promising strategy to improve the efficacy of current treatments for HCC.

Keywords: HCC; TEMs; Tie2/Ang pathway.

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Conflict of interest statement

I have no conflicts of interest to disclose.

Figures

Figure 1b
Figure 1b
The HCC Diagnostic Performance of the Studied Parameters
Figure 1c
Figure 1c
The HCC Diagnostic Performance of the Studied Parameters
Figure 1a
Figure 1a
The HCC Diagnostic Performance of the Studied Parameters
Figure 2a
Figure 2a
The Diagnostic Performance of the Studied Parameters for Differentiating HCC from HCV
Figure 2c
Figure 2c
The Diagnostic Performance of the Studied Parameters for Differentiating HCC from HCV
Figure 2b
Figure 2b
The Diagnostic Performance of the Studied Parameters for Differentiating HCC from HCV
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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