High expression of agrin in hepatocellular and cholangiocellular carcinoma

Introduction/Aim: The synthesis of proteoglycans, as one of the major components of ECM, was shown to be changed during neoplastic transformation both in tumors and surrounding tissues. Agrin, being a heparan sulfate proteoglycan constituent of the basement membrane, has been implicated in the regulation of cell growth, differentiation, adhesion and motility. The expression of agrin has already been studied in various organs, however, few reports are available about its involvement in carcinogenesis. Our goal, therefore, was to investigate mRNA and protein expression of agrin in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) an…