Ang-2 levels in the hepatic vein significantly correlated with Ang-2 mRNA expression in HCC, but Ang-2 levels in the peripheral vein did not correlate.
The MVD was significantly correlated with VEGF165, VEGF189, Ang2 and EG-VEGF mRNA with Spearman's related coefficient being 0.764, 0.510, 0.640 and 0.366 in HCC (P = 0.000, 0.000 0.000 and 0.003).
Ang-2 and VEGF mRNAs in HCC were significantly higher than those in NCL tissue (P < 0.05), whereas the Ang-1 and Tie2 mRNAs showed no statistical significance (P > 0.05), though slightly lower level of Ang-1 mRNA in HCC was observed.
Furthermore, a high Ang-2/1 mRNA ratio in HCC was closely associated with tumor portal vein invasion, tumor diameter, and the microvessel density level as assessed by CD34 immunostaining.