Expression of CD44v6,MMP-2 and VEGF in hepatocellular carcinoma and their clinical significance

Objective To analyze the combined expression of CD44v6,MMP-2 and VEGF in hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC)and to elucidate their significance.Methods By immunohistochemistry,monoclonal antibody of CD44v6,MMP-2 and VEGF were used to determine the expression of these three substances according to S-P staining method.Results The positive rate of CD44v6 in patients with metastasis was much higher than that in patients without metastasis;the expression of MMP-2 presented a high rate in patients with portal thrombus formation, showing a significant difference as compared with that in patients without portal thrombus; the expression of VEGF in small size, moderately and poorly differentiated and recurrent tumors showed a statistically significant incresase; the combined expression(2 to 3 above markers)was found significantly increased in patients with metastasis.Conclusions The expression of CD44v6、MMP-2 and VEGF in HCC was closely related to carcinogenesis, development, invasion and metastasis of the tumor. The high expression of all these 3 proteins may promote the tumor development, metastasis to other parts and portal thrombus formation and their combined expression promotes frequent metastasis to other parts of the body.