Correlation between expression of p-p38 and VEGF in primary hepatocellular carcinoma

objective To investigate the expression of phosphorylated p38MAPK(p-p38) and Vascular endothelial growth factor(VEGF) in primary hepatocellular carcinoma,and study on correlation between p-p38,VEGF and clinicopathologic features.Methods Using S-P immunohistochemical method to detect the expression of p-p38 and VEGF in 53 hepatocellular carcinoma tissues,30 paracancerous tissues.Results The positive rates of p-p38 and VEGF in the tissues of hepatocellular carcinoma were significantly higher than those in paracancerous tissues.Expression of p-p38 and VEGF were significantly correlated with tumor metastasis,cancer embolus and pathological grade.There were not correlated with age,gender,serum concentration of AFP,pathological type and tumor size.There was a positive correlation between the expression of p-p38 and VEGF in hepatocellular carcinoma(r=0.458,P=0.001).Conclusion p-p38 and VEGF gene might play an important roles in the progression and metastasis of hepatocellular carcinoma.