Prognostic significance of vascular endothelial growth factor, basic fibroblast growth factor, and angiogenin in patients with resectable hepatocellular carcinoma after surgery.
BACKGROUND
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a hypervascular malignancy. Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF), and angiogenin (ANG) are important angiogenic factors of neoangiogenesis. This study investigated the predictive value of serum VEGF, bFGF, and ANG in tumor recurrence, disease-free survival (DFS), and overall survival (OS) in HCC patients.


METHODS
Preoperative serum VEGF, bFGF, and ANG were measured in 98 patients with resectable HCC and in 15 healthy controls. The median follow-up time was 43 months.


RESULTS
Preoperative serum VEGF was increased in patients with resectable HCC compared with healthy controls (P <.05). Increased serum VEGF was correlated with tumor recurrence (P =.001). Univariate analysis showed that serum VEGF, tumor-node-metastasis stage, tumor size and number, macroscopic portal vein invasion, and microscopic vascular invasion were correlated with OS and DFS. Serum bFGF and ANG were not associated with survival. Multivariate analysis showed that serum VEGF was the most significant predictor of DFS (relative risk, 2.35; 95% confidence interval, 1.26-4.39; P =.007) and OS (relative risk, 3.44; 95% confidence interval, 1.81-6.57; P <.001) in HCC patients after surgical resection.


CONCLUSIONS
Preoperative serum VEGF is a significant independent predictor of tumor recurrence, DFS, and OS in patients with resectable HCC.
Cancer Center, Taipei Veterans General Hospital and School of Medicine, National Yang-Ming University, Taipei, Taiwan. ychao@vghtpe.gov.tw
Yee
Y
Chao
Chung-Ping
CP
Li
Gar-Yang
GY
Chau
Chih-Ping
CP
Chen
Kuang-Liang
KL
King
Wing-Yiu
WY
Lui
Sang-Hue
SH
Yen
Full-Young
FY
Chang
Wing-Kai
WK
Chan
Shou-Dong
SD
Lee
D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000097:blood* / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D016228:Endothelial Growth Factors / Q000097:blood*; D005260:Female; D016222:Fibroblast Growth Factor 2 / Q000097:blood*; D006801:Humans; D036341:Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins / Q000097:blood*; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000097:blood* / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D008222:Lymphokines / Q000097:blood*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D009361:Neoplasm Invasiveness; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / Q000097:blood*; D011169:Portal Vein / Q000473:pathology; D011379:Prognosis; D012259:Ribonuclease, Pancreatic / Q000097:blood*; D016019:Survival Analysis; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; D042442:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factors
D016228:Endothelial Growth Factors; D036341:Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins; D008222:Lymphokines; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; D042442:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factors; D016222:Fibroblast Growth Factor 2; C046366:angiogenin; D012259:Ribonuclease, Pancreatic