Vascular endothelial growth factor receptor-1 levels in hepatocellular carcinoma and correlations with clinicopathological features.
OBJECTIVE
To determine the serum vascular endothelial growth factor receptor-1 (VEGFR-1) levels in hepatocellular carcinoma patients and its correlations with the clinical and laboratory parameters.


METHODS
Serum VEGFR-1 levels were measured in 18 biopsy-proven treatment-naive hepatocellular carcinoma patients (female/male: 5/13; mean age: 59.22 +/- 13.15 years) and in age- and sex-matched healthy controls. Possible associations were also evaluated between serum VEGFR-1 levels and etiology and severity of chronic liver disease, serum alpha-fetoprotein levels, presence of ascites and portal vein thrombosis, and tumor number, size and stage.


RESULTS
Serum VEGFR-1 levels were undetectable in all healthy subjects, while all of the patients with hepatocellular carcinoma had increased VEGFR-1 (p < 0.001). Serum VEGFR-1 levels did not correlate with the clinical and laboratory parameters and tumor characteristics in hepatocellular carcinoma.


CONCLUSIONS
VEGFR-1 is involved in the regulation of carcinogenesis in hepatocellular carcinoma.
Yolcu
Omer Faruk
OF
Department of Gastroenterology, Türkiye Yülksek Ihtisas Hospital, Ankara.
Köklü
Seyfettin
S
Yüksel
Osman
O
Coban
Sahin
S
Ayaz
Selime
S
Akif Oztürk
M
M
Benekli
Mustafa
M
D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000097:blood* / Q000175:diagnosis*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000097:blood* / Q000175:diagnosis*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D040281:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptor-1 / Q000097:blood*
D040281:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptor-1