Correlation between serum VEGF level and CT perfusion imaging in patients with primary liver cancer pre-and post TACE

Objective To investigate the correlation between serum vascular endothelial growth factor(VEGF) level and CT perfusion parameters in patients with primary liver cancer(PLC) pre-and post-transcatheter arterial chemoembolization(TACE) treatment.Methods Serum VEGF level was measured and CT perfusion imaging was performed 1 day before and 6～8,32～40 days after TACE in 18 patients with PLC.Before and after TACE,the serum VEGF level,the tumor's artery liver perfusion(ALP),the portal vein perfusion(PVP) and the hepatic artery perfusion index(HPI) were measured pre-and post-TACE.The pre-TACE and post-TACE results were compared and statistically analyzed.Results Based on the therapeutic results,the patients were divided into complete response(CR) group and partial response or stable disease(PR+SD) group.Although no significant difference in serum VEGF level,tumor's ALP,PVP and HPI existed between two groups pre-TACE,there was significant difference in ALP,HPI 6-8 days after TACE(P0.05).Significant difference in serum VEGF level also existed in CR group(P0.05),but not in(PR+SD) group,at(32-40) days post-TACE(P=0.221).The serum VEGF level carried a positive correlation with the tumor's ALP and HPI.Conclusion The serum VEGF level can indirectly reflect the neovascularization of the tumor,while the CTPI can directly and quantitatively reflect the hemodynamic changes of the tumor post-TACE.Moreover,a positive correlation exists between serum VEGF level and ALP,HPI.Therefore,the determination of serum VEGF level together with CTPI is very useful in both evaluating TACE efficacy and making therapeutic schedule.