Type I (insulin-dependent) and Type II (non-insulindependent) diabetes mellitus are characterised by an increased risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD) in men and women [1]. In particular there is an excess incidence of coronary heart disease (CHD) and stroke in people with diabetes. However the role of the cardiovascular factors increasing the risk of CVD in diabetes in the general population has remained controversial [2]. In order to plan cost-effective cardiovascular interventions in diabetic patients, the strength of the relation between various putative Diabetologia (2001)
Endocan plays a role in tumour angiogenesis and tumour growth. The aim of this study was to detect the expression of endocan in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) tumour-associated endothelial cells and to correlate endocan expression with clinicopathological parameters and tumour angiogenesis. Tumour tissues and surrounding non-cancerous hepatic parenchyma from 42 primary HCC patients were studied. Endothelial cells were isolated using magnetic microbeads conjugated with anti-CD31 and endocan expression was evaluated by real-time reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction, Western blotting and immunohistochemistry. Endocan was significantly over-expressed in endothelial cells isolated from HCC tumours compared with corresponding non-cancerous liver tissues. In addition, the endocan mRNA level was significantly correlated with the serum alpha-fetoprotein level, intra-tumoural microvessel density, vascular endothelial growth factor mRNA, and vascular and venous invasion. The over-expression of endocan in tumour endothelial cells was closely related to the process of angiogenesis and pathogenesis in HCC, and suggests that endocan might be a useful marker for HCC progression.
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