Objective. As sinusoidal endothelial cell progenitor cells (SEPCs) play a significant role in liver regeneration, it is necessary to elucidate whether SEPCs participate in tumour progression of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Methods. A total of 45 patients with primary HCC who underwent liver resection were included in this study. The liver tumours were removed from the patients, and partial tissues were prepared to identify SEPCs through double staining of CD133/CD45 and CD133/CD31 at the same location. Blood samples were collected to examine liver function parameters and tumour markers. The demographics and clinicopathological characteristics of the patients were collected for correlation analysis with SEPCs. Results. SEPCs were observed in several blood vessels within the HCC nodules of all 45 patients, but no SEPCs were detected in the tumour-adjacent tissues. The number of SEPCs was correlated with the expression levels of HCC tumour markers α-fetoprotein (AFP) and CA199. There was a positive correlation between the expression of SEPC markers and diameter of HCC tumours in differently differentiated specimens (). The expression levels of SEPC markers were significantly higher in patients with poorly differentiated HCC than in patients with moderately and highly differentiated HCC (). Conclusions. SEPCs are closely associated with HCC progression; therefore, SEPCs may be considered potential prognostic and metastatic biomarkers and therapeutic candidates for HCC.

中文翻译：

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肝窦内皮细胞祖细胞促进肝细胞癌患者的肿瘤进展

客观。由于肝窦内皮细胞祖细胞（SEPCs）在肝再生中发挥重要作用，因此有必要阐明SEPCs是否参与肝细胞癌（HCC）的肿瘤进展。方法。本研究共纳入 45 例接受肝切除术的原发性 HCC 患者。切除患者肝脏肿瘤，制备部分组织，通过同一部位的CD133/CD45和CD133/CD31双重染色鉴定SEPC。收集血样以检查肝功能参数和肿瘤标志物。收集患者的人口统计学和临床​​病理学特征用于与 SEPC 的相关性分析。结果. 在所有 45 名患者的 HCC 结节内的多个血管中均观察到 SEPC，但在肿瘤邻近组织中未检测到 SEPC。SEPC的数量与HCC肿瘤标志物α-胎蛋白（AFP）和CA199的表达水平相关。不同分化标本中 SEPC 标志物的表达与 HCC 肿瘤直径呈正相关。）。低分化 HCC 患者 SEPC 标志物的表达水平显着高于中高分化 HCC 患者。）。 结论。SEPCs 与 HCC 进展密切相关；因此，SEPC 可能被认为是 HCC 的潜在预后和转移性生物标志物和治疗候选物。