Dynamic expression and clinical values of vascular endothelial growth factor during development of hepatocellular carcinoma

Objective To investigate the dynamic expression of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and its clinical values for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).Methods Hepatoma models were made with 2-fluorenylacetamide (2-FAA)on male Sprague-Dawley rats.The changes of hepatocyte morphology (HE staining)and VEGF expression at different stages of rat HCC formation were observed,respectively.HCC tissues and their matched distal cancerous tissues,and peripheral venous blood were collected in patients with liver diseases.Hepatic VEGF expression were investigated by immunohistochemistry.The VEGF levels were quantitatively detected by ELISA.Results The rat hepatocytes showed vacuole-like denaturation,hyperplastic nodal appearance and cancerous nest during development of HCC with an increasing tendency of VEGF expression.The positive expression showed palm-yellow or palm-brown granules in human HCC.The incidence of VEGF was 63.9% in HCC,78.3% in non-encapsulated HCCs,and 90.9% in HCCs with extrahepatic metastasis,respectively.The specific concentration (pg/mg liver) of HCC VEGF was significantly higher (P0.01) than their distal cancerous tissues.Serum VEGF in HCC was significantly higher than that in chronic hepatitis or cirrhosis or controls.Conclusions Abnormal expression of VEGF during HCC development,and its analysis is a useful marker for diagnosis and monitoring metastasis of HCC.