Immunohistochemical analysis results indicated a high expression of Bcl-2 and p53 in proliferative stage hemangioma tissue samples, and low expression in involuting stage hemangioma and healthy tissue samples.
Moreover, the protein levels of VEGF, phosphorylated STAT3, total STAT3 and Bcl-2 were significantly upregulated by HIF-1α overexpression in propranolol-treated nude mice bearing hemangiomas.