Platelet-derived endothelial cell growth factor (PD-ECGF) is up-regulated in human hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and the corresponding hepatitis liver.
OBJECTIVE
Platelet-derived endothelial cell growth factor (PD-ECGF) is one of the angiogenic factors. The aim of this study was to examine the PD-ECGF concentrations in hepatocellular carcinoma, background liver, and normal liver tissues, and to elucidate their significance on clinicopathological outcomes.


METHODS
The concentration of PD-ECGF in the tissue extract was determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.


RESULTS
PD-ECGF concentrations were significantly higher in hepatocellular carcinoma and background liver tissues compared with normal control liver (p = 0.003, p = 0.001, respectively). PD-ECGF concentrations in hepatocellular carcinoma tissues were positively correlated with intratumoral arteriole densities (r = 0.667, p = 0.009), and were higher in less differentiated carcinomas (p = 0.039). However, tumor PD-ECGF concentration did not affect the patients' disease-free survival rates. Those in the background liver tissues were positively correlated with histological activity index scores (r = 0.650, p = 0.001) and serum alanine aminotransferase levels (r = 0.0452, p = 0.035).


CONCLUSIONS
PD-ECGF is up-regulated in hepatocellular carcinoma and the corresponding hepatitis liver. The PD-ECGF concentrations in hepatocellular carcinoma correlated positively with microvessel density, lower differentiation, yet not with patients' prognosis. The concentrations of PD-ECGF in the corresponding hepatitis liver correlated positively with the degree of active hepatitis.
Department of Surgery, Yokohama City Kowan Hospital, 3-2-3 Shinnyamashita, Nakaku, Yokohama 231-0801, Japan. sm990093@city.yokohama.jp
Soichiro
S
Morinaga
Yuji
Y
Yamamoto
Yoshikazu
Y
Noguchi
Toshio
T
Imada
Yasushi
Y
Rino
Makoto
M
Akaike
Yukio
Y
Sugimasa
Shoji
S
Takemiya
Yoshinori
Y
Takanashi
D000410:Alanine Transaminase / Q000097:blood; D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000378:metabolism*; D006505:Hepatitis / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008099:Liver / Q000378:metabolism; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism*; D013939:Thymidine Phosphorylase / Q000378:metabolism*; D015854:Up-Regulation
D013939:Thymidine Phosphorylase; D000410:Alanine Transaminase