Peritoneal fluid contains high concentration of hepatocyte growth factor and vascular endothelial growth factor after resection for hepatocellular carcinoma.
OBJECTIVE
Surges in blood growth factor levels is a typical response to surgical stress. However, growth factor profiles in peritoneal fluid after hepatectomy for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) have not been clarified. We evaluated hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in blood and peritoneal fluid preoperatively and postoperatively.


METHODS
Serial blood and peritoneal fluid samples were collected from 47 patients who underwent curative hepatectomy for primary HCC at a university hospital. Blood samples were collected postoperative days 0, 1, 3, 5, and 7; peritoneal fluid was collected at the same time except day 0. VEGF and HGF concentrations were determined, and correlations between concentrations and clinical parameters of HCC were analyzed.


RESULTS
HGF surges appeared postoperatively in blood and peritoneal fluid; concentrations paralleled each other. There was no postoperative surge of VEGF in blood, but peritoneal fluid VEGF concentration was remarkably high after hepatectomy. Both HGF and VEGF levels in blood and peritoneal fluid correlated with some clinical parameters. The difference in HGF and VEGF patterns in blood and peritoneal fluid imply that the origins of these two growth factors differ.


CONCLUSIONS
Post-hepatectomy, VEGF and HGF levels surged in peritoneal fluid, whereas only HGF surged in blood, suggesting independent origins for the two growth factors. Both VEGF and HGF concentrations correlated with some clinical parameters.
Hu
Rey-Heng
RH
Department of Surgery, National Taiwan University Hospital, 7 Chung-Shan South Rd., Taipei 100, Taiwan. rhhu@ha.mc.ntu.edu.tw
Ho
Ming-Chih
MC
Wu
Yao-Ming
YM
Lee
Po-Huang
PH
D001202:Ascitic Fluid / Q000737:chemistry*; D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000601:surgery*; D005260:Female; D006498:Hepatectomy; D017228:Hepatocyte Growth Factor / Q000032:analysis*; D006801:Humans; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery*; D008297:Male; D011184:Postoperative Period; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / Q000032:analysis*
D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; D017228:Hepatocyte Growth Factor