Figure 2

Hepcidin mRNA expression in tumors differing in their degree of differentiation, number of tumors, and vessel invasion. Hepcidin mRNA expression did not differ among (A) well (n = 4), moderately (n = 32), and poorly (n = 4) differentiated carcinoma, (B) patients with 1 (n = 29), 2 (n = 5), 3 (n = 4), and 4 or more (n = 2) HCCs, and (C) negative (n = 31) and positive (n = 9) for vessel invasion.