When we analyzed MVD in conjunction with the clinicopathological characteristics of the HCC tumors, we found that the CD105-MVD, but not the CD34-MVD, was strongly correlated with the presence of microscopic venous invasion; microscopic venous invasion has been shown by other studies to be one of the most accurate prognostic indicators of postoperative recurrence and metastasis in HCC [38-40]. The gene discussed is ENG; the disease is hepatocellular carcinoma.