EPOR and hepatocellular carcinoma: The localization of EpoR by immunohistochemistry confirmed previous studies on chemically induced hepatocellular carcinoma in mice (Nakamatsu et al. 2004), indicating the presence of the receptor in the sinusoids within the regenerative nodules and supporting an important role of EPO in the vasculogenesis and angiogenesis related to disturbances of the circulatory tree in the cirrhotic liver that are crucial for the expansion and proliferation of the tumor.