Clinical significance of plasma D-dimer levels and serum VEGF levels in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma.
OBJECTIVE
Angiogenesis and coagulation system activation are associated with tumor growth and metastasis. Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) has been reported to play a major role in tumor angiogenesis. The elevation of plasma D-dimer level indicates the activation of coagulation and fibrinolysis. The purpose of this study was to: (a) evaluate the correlation between serum VEGF and plasma D-dimer level; (b) analyze the clinical features that might affect the VEGF and D-dimer levels in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma.


METHODS
Twenty patients with hepatocellular carcinoma were included prior to treatment. Serum VEGF levels were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Plasma D-dimer levels were measured by quantitative latex microparticle enhanced turbidimetric immunoassay.


RESULTS
The presence of a high plasma D-dimer level was found to be correlated with the presence of central necrosis, higher Child's grade, advanced TNM stage, and the presence of portal vein thrombosis when plasma D-dimer levels were compared between different clinicopathologic groups. Tumors larger than 2 cm in diameter had higher median serum VEGF levels than tumors less than 2cm in diameter. No correlation was found between plasma D-dimer level and serum VEGF level in hepatocellular carcinoma patients (r=0.126, p=0.598).


CONCLUSIONS
No correlation was found between the plasma D-dimer level and the serum VEGF level in hepatocellular carcinoma patients. The plasma D-dimer level appeared to reflect the tumor stage and vascular invasion of hepatocellular carcinoma. Serum VEGF level in hepatocellular carcinoma patients showed a positive correlation with tumor size.
Tseng
Chien-Sen
CS
Division of Hepatology, Center of Hepato-Gastroenterology Yuan's General Hospital, Kaohsiung Medical University Hospital, Kaohsiung, Taiwan.
Lo
Hoi-Wan
HW
Chen
Pao-Huei
PH
Chuang
Wan-Long
WL
Juan
Chung-Chou
CC
Ker
Chen-Guo
CG
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000097:blood*; D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D005338:Fibrin Fibrinogen Degradation Products / Q000032:analysis*; D006801:Humans; D008099:Liver / Q000473:pathology; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009336:Necrosis; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D011169:Portal Vein / Q000473:pathology; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D012016:Reference Values; D013223:Statistics as Topic; D013927:Thrombosis / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000473:pathology; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / Q000097:blood*
D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D005338:Fibrin Fibrinogen Degradation Products; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; C036309:fibrin fragment D