Angiopoietin-2 is expressed in prostate cancer (PCa) bone, liver, and lymph node metastases, whereas, its competitor angiopoietin-1 has limited expression in these tissues.
Transcript alterations statistically-associated with bone metastases included increased expression of IBSP (Bone sialoprotein), F13A1 (factor XIII), and decreased expression of EFNA1 (ephrin-A1) and ANGPT2 (angiopoietin-2) when compared to liver and lymph node metastases.
Furthermore, expression of Ang-2 as well as VEGF was significantly up-regulated in colorectal adenocarcinoma with diameters > or = 5 cm or with lymph-node metastases (p < 0.01).
Results revealed that Ang-2 expression was significantly increased in gastric cancer tissues (74%) and was correlated with higher TNM stage, lymph node metastasis as well as distance metastasis.
The Ang-2 mRNA expression was significantly associated with lymph node metastasis, stage, Ang-2 protein, and microvessel density (MVD) level (p=0.0009 for lymph node metastasis; p=0.0002 for stage; p<0.0001 for Ang-2 protein; p<0.0001 for MVD).