Serum vascular endothelial growth factor per platelet count in hepatocellular carcinoma: correlations with clinical parameters and survival.
BACKGROUND
Platelets have been reported to act as transporters of tumor-originated vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), contributing to tumor angiogenesis and progression. Serum VEGF per platelet count, as an indirect theoretical estimate of VEGF in platelets, may predict the malignant potential of tumors. However, its prognostic significance is still unclear in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), a highly vascular tumor.


METHODS
Serum VEGF was measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. We compared serum VEGF, platelet count and serum VEGF per platelet count in 52 HCC patients, 26 liver cirrhosis patients and 30 healthy controls. The relation of serum VEGF per platelet count with clinicopathologic variables of HCC patients and the prognostic significance were investigated.


RESULTS
Serum VEGF per platelet count in HCC patients was higher than in liver cirrhosis patients and healthy controls (P < 0.01). There was a statistically significant correlation between serum VEGF and platelet count in HCC patients (r = 0.751, P < 0.01). Serum VEGF per platelet count was higher in patients with advanced stage and portal vein thrombosis (P < 0.01). Patients with high serum VEGF per platelet count (>1.4 pg/10(6)) showed poor response to treatment and shorter overall survival (P < 0.01). Serum VEGF per platelet count was an independent prognostic factor with the presence of portal vein thrombosis (P < 0.01).


CONCLUSIONS
Serum VEGF per platelet count could be a feasible prognostic indicator during the follow-up of patients with HCC.
Kim
Seok Jin
SJ
Division of Oncology and Hematology, Department of Internal Medicine, Korea University Medical Center, 126-1 Anam-dong 5-ga, Sungbuk-ku, Seoul 136-705, Korea.
Choi
In Keun
IK
Park
Kyong Hwa
KH
Yoon
So Young
SY
Oh
Sang Cheul
SC
Seo
Jae Hong
JH
Choi
Chul Won
CW
Kim
Byung Soo
BS
Shin
Sang Won
SW
Kim
Yeul Hong
YH
Kim
Jun Suk
JS
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000097:blood* / Q000401:mortality / Q000628:therapy; D016461:Chemoembolization, Therapeutic; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008103:Liver Cirrhosis / Q000097:blood; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000097:blood* / Q000401:mortality / Q000628:therapy; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010976:Platelet Count; D011379:Prognosis; D015996:Survival Rate; D042442:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factors / Q000097:blood*
D042442:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factors