Expression of HIF-2α/EPAS1 in hepatocellular carcinoma

Figure 1 Characterization of HIF-2α/EPAS1 expression in human hepatocellular carcinoma tissues by IHC technique. A: Weak expression of HIF-2α/EPAS1 in membranes and cytoplasms of HCC cells (× 400). B: Strong cytoplasmic immunoreactivity of HIF-2α/EPAS1 in HCC cells (× 400). C: HIF-2α/EPAS1 positive staining (arrows) in perinecrotic region near tumor in a HCC sample (with capsular infiltration and portal vein invasion) (× 400). D: Strong HIF-2α/EPAS1 expression in HCC tissues whereas no staining in adjacent stroma cells (× 400). E: Strong staining in the cytoplasm of macrophages compared with cancer cells, showing weak staining for HIF-2α/EPAS1 (× 400). F: Moderate to strong positive staining of HIF-2α/EPAS1 in tumor clusters infiltrating to the tissue (× 400).

Figure 2 Parallel study of VEGF protein expression in HCC samples. A mAb against VEGF was used for immunostainig of slides from HCC patients. A: HCC with capsular infiltration and portal vein invasion showing strong staining (++) in the cytoplasm of tumor cells. B: HCC without capsular infiltration and portal vein invasion showing weak staining (+) (× 200).