[Clinicopathologic study of angiogenesis in human hepatocellular carcinoma].
OBJECTIVE
To study clinicopathologic significance of microvessel density (MVD) and the expression of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in human hepato-cellular carcinoma (HCC).


METHODS
30 HCC cases with neighboring noncancerous tissues, 10 liver cirrhosis cases, 5 mild chronic hepatitis cases and 4 normal liver tissue samples were stained with CD34, VEGF by immunohistochemistry method. Quantitation of sinusoid-like vessels and semi-quantitation of VEGF expression were performed and analyzed in conjunction with the clinico-pathological features of HCC.


RESULTS
All HCC tissues showed diffuse CD34 expression and its site of distribution was somewhat corresponding to the original structure of sinusoid-like pattern, while CD34 was negative in the "sinusoid" regions of normal and chronic liver disease. Both MVD and VEGF were correlated to portal vein invasion of HCC, MVD was also correlated to the tumor size. The MVD of tumor less than 2 cm in diameter was significantly lower than that of tumors with a diameter of 2 similar 5 cm. The positive rate of VEGF in HCC was 83.3%. The expression of VEGF was also remarkable in the neighboring noncancerous tissues in which inflammatory cell infiltration was apparent.


CONCLUSIONS
MVD and expression of VEGF were remarkably increased in HCC. Both were correlated with portal vein invasion. VEGF derived from tumor cells and noncancerous tissues may be associated with the angiogenesis of HCC.
Ma
J
J
Department of Pathology, Nanjing Jinling Hospital, Nanjing 210002, China.
Zhou
X
X
Zhang
T
T
Sun
G
G
Meng
K
K
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D018952:Antigens, CD34 / Q000378:metabolism*; D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000503:physiopathology; D016228:Endothelial Growth Factors / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D036341:Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000503:physiopathology; D008222:Lymphokines / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D008833:Microcirculation; D008875:Middle Aged; D009389:Neovascularization, Pathologic / Q000503:physiopathology; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; D042442:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factors
D018952:Antigens, CD34; D016228:Endothelial Growth Factors; D036341:Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins; D008222:Lymphokines; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; D042442:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factors