Molecular evaluation of apoptotic versus antiapoptotic angiogenic markers in hepatocellular carcinoma

HCC is associated with increased expression of VEGF, HGF, and TGF-β, and with suppression of Fas-L. In addition, HO-1 is highly significantly expressed in HCC. The significant positive correlation between HO-1 and HGF was first reported in Egyptian human liver biopsies, and this suggests that it may play a role in the progression of hepatocellular carcinoma.