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Quantitative analysis of vascular endothelial growth factor, microvascular density and their clinicopathologic features in human hepatocellular carcinoma |
Deng-Fu Yao, Xin-Hua Wu, Yong Zhu, Gong-Sheng Shi, Zhi-Zhen Dong, Deng-Bing Yao, Wei Wu, Li-Wei Qiu and Xian-Yong Meng |
Nantong, China
Author Affiliations: Research Center of Clinical Molecular Biology (Yao DF, Wu XH, Zhu Y, Wu W and Qiu LW), Department of Pathology (Shi GS) and Department of Gastroenterology (Meng XY), Affiliated Hospital of Nantong University; Department of Diagnostics (Dong ZZ), and Institute of Neurosciences (Yao DB), Nantong University; Nantong 226001, China
Corresponding Author: Deng-Fu Yao, MD, PhD, Research Center of Clinical Molecular Biology, Affiliated Hospital of Nantong University, Nantong 226001, China (Tel: 86-513-5861539; Fax: 86-513-5052523; Email: dfyrcmb@yahoo.com) |
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Abstract BACKGROUND: Angiogenesis is known to be essential to the survival, growth, invasion, and metastasis of tumor cells. Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) are an important angiogenic factor regulating tumor angiogenesis, but its significance and tumor pathologic features are unclear in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). In the present study, we analyzed expression of tissue VEGF, alteration of microvascular density (MVD) in microvessel angiogenesis, development and metastasis of HCC, and level of serum VEGF in differential diagnosis of benign and malignant liver diseases.
METHODS: Tumor specimens were prospectively collected from HCC patients undergoing resection. Total RNAs were extracted and the expression levels were detected from different parts of HCC tissues. The cellular distributions of VEGF and MVD of liver tumors and their paracancerous and distal cancerous tissues were investigated by streptavidin peroxidase (S-P) immunohistochemistry, respectively. The VEGF levels of circulating blood and hepatoma tissues were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.
RESULTS: The incidence of VEGF expression was 63.9% in HCCs (23/36 cases), 78.3% in non-encapsulated HCCs (18/23), and 90.9% in HCCs with extrahepatic metastasis (10/11), respectively. The VEGF expression was tightly correlated with MVD (P<0.01). The MVD in HCC with metastasis, low differentiation or non-encapsulation was significantly higher than that in HCC with intact capsule, high differentiation, or no metastasis. No significant difference was found between VEGF, MVD, tumor size, and hepatitis virus infection. The level of total RNA in HCC tissues was significantly lower but the VEGF level significantly higher than those in paracancerous or distal cancerous ones (P<0.01). The abnormal expression levels of VEGF in sera of HCC patients were directly correlated with the metastasis and recurrence of tumors.
CONCLUSION: The high expression of VEGF and abnormality of tissue MVD are useful predictors for vascular invasion and metastasis of liver tumors.
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Cite this article: |
Yao DF,
Wu XH,
Zhu Y,
et al.
Quantitative analysis of vascular endothelial growth factor, microvascular density and their clinicopathologic features in human hepatocellular carcinoma.
Hepatobiliary Pancreat Dis Int
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DOI:
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URL: |
http://dx.doi.org/ OR http://www.hbpdint.com/EN/Y2005/V4/I2/220 |
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