BDNF and hepatocellular carcinoma: BDNF overexpression in endothelial cells increases proliferation and vascularization (sensitive to the TrkB inhibitor K252a), while in patient samples with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), BDNF and TrkB are overexpressed, in fact, high expression of TrkB correlates with low patient survival.209 BDNF has high angiogenic potential by recruiting bone-marrow-derived cells as endothelial progenitor cells and pro-angiogenic hematopoietic cells (Sca-1+CD11b+)210 and induces differentiation of stem cells to endothelial cells.211 These effects may be relevant in tumor angiogenesis and vasculogenesis.