Detection of serum VEGF and their association analysis in hepatocellular carcinoma

Objective To detect concentration of serum vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and analyze their relation between VEGF and clinical stages.Methods By ELISA serum VEGF levels were determined in 146 pa- tients with HCC and 30 healthy control.The relationship between VEGF and clinical stages were analyzed.Results The serum VEGF levels in HCC group were significantly higher than those in control group (P0.01).The levels of serum VEGF in the patients with HCC were strongly associated with tumor size (P0.01).Serum VEGF showed a significant elevation in the patients with remote metastasis,recurrent HCC and TNMⅢ,Ⅳstages (P0.01).Conclusions The detection of serum VEGF might provide a significant index marker for HCC di- agnosis and clinical stages.