Clinical significance and expression of serum VEGF and AFP in primary hepatocarcinoma

Objective To explore the clinical significance and expression of serum vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and alpha-fetoprotein(AFP) in primary hepatocarcinoma(PHC).Methods By using ELISA serum VEGF and AFP levels were determined in 146 patients with PHC, 31 patients with liver cirrhosis and 30 healthy controls.The relationship among VEGF and AFP and clinical indexes were analyzed.Results The serum VEGF(pg/ml) levels in PHC group(398.4± 153.1)were significantly higher than those in liver cirrhosis group (178.6±97.5)and in healthy control group (166.8±84.2)(P0.01).VEGF/AFP diagnostic sensitivity was 71.23%/73.29%,specificity was 80.64%/83.87% in PHC.The sensitivity raised to 91. 81%, accuracy to 90.40% with combined detection of VEGF and AFP.There was no relationship beween VEGF and AFP. The levels of serum VEGF in the patients with PHC were strongly associated with tumor size(P0.01).Serum VEGF showed a significant elevation in the patients with remote metastasis, recurrent PHC and TNM Ⅲ,Ⅳ stages (P0.01).Conclusion The detection of serum VEGF and AFP might provide a significant index marker for PHC diagnosis and a predictor of prognosis.