title: Circulating platelet-derived endothelial cell growth factor increases in hepatocellular carcinoma patients.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Platelet-derived endothelial cell growth factor (PD-ECGF) is an angiogenic factor that is expressed in various cancer tissues. Little is known regarding plasma PD-ECGF levels in patients with chronic liver disease such as chronic hepatitis (CH), cirrhosis, and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) with cirrhosis. The expression of PD-ECGF in HCC tissues also remains to be clarified.
  
  
  METHODS
  Plasma PD-ECGF levels in patients with chronic liver disease were determined with an enzyme-linked immunoadsorbent assay system using the mouse monoclonal antibodies specific to PD-ECGF. These were cross-sectionally compared among groups of normal persons, CH, cirrhosis, and HCC patients. The HCC patients were classified into two groups based on TNM stage: early and advanced stage disease groups. PD-ECGF expressions in HCC tissues were immunohistologically examined.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The plasma PD-ECGF levels from the normal individuals and those with CH, cirrhosis, and HCC specimens were 4.2+/-0.5, 4.3+/-0.6, 4.6+/-1.1, and 6.0 +/-2.5 U/mL, respectively. The plasma PD-ECGF concentration was highest in HCC (P < 0.05). No significant difference was found among the normal subjects, CH, and cirrhosis specimens. Plasma PD-ECGF concentrations were significantly higher in the advanced stage disease HCC group compared with the early stage disease group (6.75+/-2.62 U/mL vs. 4.19+/-0.34 U/mL) (P < 0.05). Immunohistochemical expression of PD-ECGF in HCC cells increased significantly compared with normal liver cells (P < 0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Circulating PD-ECGF plasma level might be a new tumor marker for progression in patients with HCC. Immunohistological findings correspond to elevation of the plasma PD-ECGF in HCC patients. It is possible that increased production of PD-ECGF in HCC cells causes abundant neovascularization.
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Research, National Shikoku Cancer Center Hospital, Ehime, Japan.
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Jin-no
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Tanimizu
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Hyodo
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Nishikawa
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Hosokawa
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Endo
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Doi
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Mandai
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Ishitsuka
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000097:blood; D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000097:blood / Q000209:etiology* / Q000378:metabolism; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008107:Liver Diseases / Q000097:blood; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000097:blood / Q000209:etiology* / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D013939:Thymidine Phosphorylase / Q000097:blood* / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D013939:Thymidine Phosphorylase