[Expression and clinical impact of vascular endothelial growth factor and matrix metalloproteinase-2 in hepatocellular carcinoma].
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the expression and clinical impact of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and matrix metalloproteinase-2 (MMP-2) in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).


METHODS
Ninety specimens obtained from HCC patients were examined immunohistochemically using anti-VEGF and anti-MMP-2 monoclonal antibodies.


RESULTS
The positive rates of VEGF and MMP-2 expression in HCC tissues were 76.7% and 60%, respectively. The expression of MMP-2 in HCC tissues was positively correlated with the expression of VEGF (r(s) = 0.32) and both were positively correlated with recurrence (or metastasis) after hepatectomy (r(s) = 0.31, r(s) = 0.32). 2-year tumor-free survival rates of VEGF- group, VEGF+ group and VEGF++ group were 71.4%, 43.5%, 30.4%, respectively, (P < 0.01), while MMP-2- group 66.7% and MMP-2+ group 32.8% (P < 0.01). Multivariate analysis revealed that the expression of VEGF and MMP-2 in HCC tissues, tumor microthrombus and pre-operative dissemination to lymph nodes were independent recurrence (or metastasis) risk factors.


CONCLUSIONS
The expression of VEGF and MMP-2 in HCC tissues, and clinicopathological features (tumor microthrombus and pre-operative dissemination to lymph nodes), could be regarded as valuable indicators for prediction of recurrence (or metastasis) risk in HCC patients.
Guo
Rong-ping
RP
State Key Laboratory of Oncology in Southern China, Department of Hepatobiliary Tumors, Cancer Center of Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510060, China. rpguo@gzsums.edu.cn
Zhong
Chong
C
Shi
Ming
M
Zhang
Chang-qing
CQ
Wei
Wei
W
Zhang
Ya-qi
YQ
Li
Jin-qing
JQ
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000401:mortality / Q000601:surgery; D018572:Disease-Free Survival; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006498:Hepatectomy; D006801:Humans; D008103:Liver Cirrhosis / Q000150:complications; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000401:mortality / Q000601:surgery; D008297:Male; D020778:Matrix Metalloproteinase 2 / Q000378:metabolism*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local; D009360:Neoplastic Cells, Circulating / Q000378:metabolism; D011379:Prognosis; D016016:Proportional Hazards Models; D015996:Survival Rate; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / Q000378:metabolism*
D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; D020778:Matrix Metalloproteinase 2