Table 4. Differential expression of the biomarkers in relation to pT stage.

Location	Biomarker	pT2	pT3	SD between patients	SD within patients	P-value
Epithelium	Shh*	8.3	7.7	2.2	1.9	0.159
	SMO*	9.4	9	1.3	1.4	0.233
	Ptch*	1.4	3.1	2.2	1.8	<0.001
	Gli1*	6.5	7.4	2.8	1.6	0.066
	ki67**	1.1	5	6.5	3	0.152
	VEGF*	7.7	7.3	2.4	2	0.33
Stroma	Shh*	1.1	0.9	0.5	0.6	0.059
	SMO*	4.3	4	2	1.7	0.453
	Ptch*	8.2	7.3	1.2	1.5	<0.001
	Gli1*	4.2	3.9	2	1.9	0.53
	VEGF*	2.6	2	1.2	1.2	0.003
	CD31***	19	22	7	7	0.012

^*11-point scale system.

^**Percentage of positive cells.

^***CD31-positive vessels per core.

SD: standard deviation; VEGF: vascular endothelial growth factor.