[Intratumoral microvessel density and expression of vascular endothelial growth factor in hepatocellular carcinoma after chemoembolization].
OBJECTIVE
To investigate intratumoral microvessel density (MVD) and expression of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and basic fibroblast growth factor (BFGF) in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) after transcatheter arterial chemoembolization (TACE) and to evaluate their significance.


METHODS
MVD and expression of VEGF and BFGF in cancerous tissues were examined in forty specimens resected from patients with HCC using immunohistochemical methods. Among these patients, 20 patients received 1 to 7 treatments of TACE prior to II-phase surgical resection (TACE group), the other 20 patients were treated by operation without receiving any other treatment preoperatively (surgical group). There was no significant difference in clinical features between the two groups. MVD was assessed by counting immunostained endothelial cells within a certain area, and staining intensity of VEGF was assessed quantitatively with computer-assisted image analyzer. The expression of BFGF was determined by cell-positive or cell-negative.


RESULTS
The average MVD was 130.51 75.5 in TACE group and 152.35 58.80 in surgical group. There was no significant difference between the two groups (t=-1.021, P=0.341). Staining intensity of VEGF was 645.60 543.27 in TACE group, higher than in surgical group (158.28 188.48, t=281, P<0.001). BFGF-positive rate was 35% in TACE group and 40% in surgical group. There was no significant difference (x(2)=0.107, P=0.744).


CONCLUSIONS
The results indicate that survived cancerous tissue has rich vascularity and the expression of VEGF of the cancerous cells can be enhanced by TACE which may play an important role in reestablishment of blood supply to tumor after TACE.
Affiliated Zhongshang Hospital, Medical College of Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, China.
Guoliang
G
Shao
Jianhua
J
Wang
Kangrong
K
Zhou
Zhiping
Z
Yan
D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy; D002404:Catheterization; D004621:Embolization, Therapeutic; D016228:Endothelial Growth Factors / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D016222:Fibroblast Growth Factor 2 / Q000096:biosynthesis; D006801:Humans; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy; D008222:Lymphokines / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D009389:Neovascularization, Pathologic; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; D042442:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factors
D016228:Endothelial Growth Factors; D008222:Lymphokines; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; D042442:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factors; D016222:Fibroblast Growth Factor 2