Apelin expression in High grade dysplastic nodule (HGDN), hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and their adjacent cirrhosis: Apelin was expressed in dysplastic/neoplastic cells with significant tendency to increase with tumour progression. In the cirrhosis adjacent to HGDN and HCC, Apelin was expressed in hepatocytes and exempted the fibrous septa with a significant tendency to decrease with tumour progression. (A) High grade dysplastic nodule (HGDN), (B) Cirrhosis adjacent to HGDN, (C) HCC grade I, (D) Cirrhosis adjacent to HCC grade I, (E) HCC grade II-III, (F) Cirrhosis adjacent to HCC grade II-III. [Immunohistochemistry, original magnification, (A, E) × 400; (B, F) × 100; (C, D) × 200].