Phenotypic expression of human hepatoma cells in culture

Abstract

Hepatomas thrive in a hypoxic environment resulting in the induction of a cluster of hypoxia related genes. The protein phenotypic expression include hypoxia inducible factor-alpha, prolyl-4-hydroxylase, vascular endothelear growth factor and erythropoietin. The present study was undertaken to determine if human hepatoma cells when cultured for 72 h in the presence of serum under normoxia would maintain their cancerous phenotypic expression of certain hypoxia inducible genes. Our positive results affords an in vitro model system to test hypoxia inhibitors on the expression and the intracellular compartmentalization or the secretion of these hypoxia-inducible proteins.

Erythropoietin Production by a Hepatic Adenoma in a Patient with Severe Erythrocytosis

“…Carcinomas thrive in a hypoxic microenvironment, which is known to promote induction of hypoxia-related genes, including the Epo gene [14]. Erythrocytosis is reported in 10% of patients with hepatocellular carcinoma [15].…”