Correlation between Hypoxia-inducible Factor 1α/Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor and the Differentiation and Invasion of Hepatocellular Carcinoma

Objective To investigate the expressions of hypoxia-inducible factor 1α(HIF-1α)/vascular endothelial growth factor(VEGF) in the tissues of hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC) and explore their relationship with the differentiation,malignancy,and invasion of HCC.Methods The HCC tissues were graded according to Edmondson grading method.Using immunohistochemical methods,the expressions of HIF-1α and VEGF in 23 HCC tissues(group H),23 paracancerous tissues(group P),and 23 normal liver tissues(group N) were detected.Results The expressions of HIF-1α and VEGF were significantly different among these three groups(P0.05).The expressions of HIF-1α and VEGF were significantly different among these three groups(P0.05).The expression of HIF-1α was not significantly different between group P and group H(P0.05).However,the expression of VEGF showed significant difference between group P and group H(P0.05).The expressions of HIF-1α and VEGF had no significant difference between highly invasive and minimally invasive liver tissues(P0.05).The expressions of HIF-1α and VEGF in HCC tissues were not significantly correlated with Edmondson grades(rs were 0.225 and 0.162,respectively;P0.05).There was a rank correlation between the expression of HIF-1α and that of VEGF in HCC tissues(rs=0.597;P0.05).Conclusion HIF-1α and VEGF may maintain and promote the proliferation and invasion of HCC by inducting the angiopoiesis of HCC.