Correlations of the expression of vascular endothelial growth factor B and its isoforms in hepatocellular carcinoma with clinico-pathological parameters.
BACKGROUND
The vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) is involved in the growth of cancer cells through angiogenesis. At present the role of VEGF-B has not been clarified completely. We investigated correlations of the expression of VEGF-B and its isoforms, VEGF-B167 and VEGF-B186, by alternative splicing in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) with the pathological findings and prognosis.


METHODS
Forty-eight patients with HCC were investigated. We examined the mRNA expression of total VEGF-B, VEGF-B167 and VEGF-B186 in primary HCC and non-cancerous tissues using quantitative real-time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) analysis.


RESULTS
In 16 (33.3%) of 48 HCCs, the expression of total VEGF-B increased compared with the corresponding non-cancerous liver tissues. Regarding the isoforms, the expression of VEGF-B167 and VEGF-B186 was increased in 17 (35.4%) of 48 and 33 (68.75%) of 48 HCCs, respectively. Cases with high expression level of total VEGF-B in HCC significantly correlated with the advanced pathological stage (P < 0.018), tumor multiplicity (P < 0.033), vascular invasion (P < 0.045) and lack of capsule formation (P < 0.027). The result in VEGF-B167 was similar to total VEGF-B.


CONCLUSIONS
Our results indicated that the expression of VEGF-B is correlated with tumor growth and invasiveness in HCC. VEGF-B167 seemed to be the clinically dominant isoform.
Department of Surgery II, Graduate School & Faculty of Medicine, University of Nagoya, Nagoya, Japan.
Mitsuro
M
Kanda
Shuji
S
Nomoto
Yoko
Y
Nishikawa
Hiroaki
H
Sugimoto
Naohito
N
Kanazumi
Shin
S
Takeda
Akimasa
A
Nakao
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D017398:Alternative Splicing; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000601:surgery; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008099:Liver / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000601:surgery; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D011379:Prognosis; D020033:Protein Isoforms; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D012334:RNA, Neoplasm / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D015996:Survival Rate; D042561:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor B / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism
D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D020033:Protein Isoforms; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D012334:RNA, Neoplasm; C467485:VEGFB protein, human; D042561:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor B