The relationship between the serum VEGF and lipiodol retention after transcatheter arterial embolization of the solitary type hepatocellnlar carcinoma

Objective:To study the relationship between the serum vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and lipiodol retention after transcatheter arterial embolization(TACE)of the solitary type hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC). Methods:Serum VEGF expression level, was measured by quatitative sandwich enzyme-linked immunosorbentassay (ELISA,RD system), before TACE 1 day and 1 day,1 week, 2 weeks, 1 month, 2 months after TACE in 36 patients with HCC,and the percentage of lipiodol retention to the total tumor volume were measured at the same time. Results: The serum VEGF level reached a peak at 1 day after TACE, then decreased after 1 week, increased again after 2 weeks, then gradually rised to 2 months after TACE. Serum VEGF expression increase was associated with the development of recurrence in hepatocellular carcinoma after TACE. The prognosis of the patients with rising VEGF concetrations was dismal. A significant correlation existed between the serum VEGF level and the percentage of lipiodol retention of 1 day,1 month and 2 months after TACE. Conclusion: It is useful to test the serum VEGF level and the percentage of lipiodol retention, and may be as a novel prognostic predictor of the HCC treated by TACE treatment.