Angiogenesis and clinicopathologic characteristics in different hepatocellular carcinoma subtypes defined by EpCAM and α-fetoprotein expression status.

Recently, two hepatic lineage markers epithelial cell adhesion molecule (EpCAM) and α-fetoprotein (AFP) were used to classify hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) into four subtypes with prognostic implication. In the present study, we further evaluated the clinicopathologic and angiogenic characteristics among these HCC subtypes. EpCAM expression was investigated by immunohistochemistry in 115 HCC primary tumors.