Expression of CD_(34) and VEGF in hepatocellular carcinoma and correlation with tumor angiogenesis

[Objective] To investigate the expression of CD_(34), vascular endothelial growth factor(VEGF) and the status of microvessel density(MVD) in human hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC),and to determine their clinicopathological significance.[Methods] Fifty cases of HCC were studied by means of routine HE staining and Streptavidin-Peroxidase(SP) immunohistochemical staining.Subsequently quantitation of sinusoid-like vessels stained by CD_(34) and semi-quantitation of VEGF expression were performed.MVD and VEGF were compared with the clinicopathological features of HCC respectively.[Results] All tissues of HCC diffusely expressed CD_(34) and its site of distribution was somewhat corresponding to the original structure of sinusoid-like pattern.The MVD of HCC in the groups with portal vein tumor thrombosis and intrahepatic metastasis were significantly higher than that in those without portal vein tumor thrombosis and metastasis(P0.05).VEGF expression was significantly different between cases with intrahepatic metastasis and nonmetastasis(P0.05),and also,between cases with vascular invasion and noinvasion(P0.05).The significant difference of MVD was also found between VEGF positive and negative group(P0.05).[Conclusions] MVD and expression of VEGF remarkably increased in HCC.VEGF derived from tumor cells and noncancerous tissue may be associated with the angiogenesis of HCC,which may promate the growth and meeastasis of HCC.