title: Overexpression of VEGF is associated with positive p53 immunostaining in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and adverse outcome of HCC patients.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To elucidate the clinicopathological correlations among vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), microvessel density (MVD) and tumor suppressor gene p53 in hepatocellular carcinomas (HCCs), we adopted a new definition of "VEGF overexpression."
  
  
  METHODS
  The expressions of VEGF, MVD, and p53 in 113 HCC specimens were analyzed by immunohistochemistry.
  
  
  RESULTS
  VEGF expression in surrounding liver tended to be stronger (VEGF overexpression, 31%) than, or similar to (57%) that in HCCs (P = 0.001). P53 positivity was noted in 42 cases (37.1%). MVD ranged from 22 to 201 microvessels/field determined for 5 high-power fields. VEGF expression in HCCs was positively correlated with MVD (P = 0.001). VEGF overexpression is positively correlated with young age (P = 0.008), male gender (P = 0.01), hepatitis B viremia (P = 0.013), high alpha-fetoprotein levels (P < 0.001), p53 (+) (P = 0.036), advanced-stage HCC (P = 0.015), and HCC dedifferentiation (P = 0.004). Survival analyses indicated that VEGF overexpression, high MVD, and advanced-stage HCC were independent poor prognostic factors for disease-free and overall survival.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study provides evidence of a positive association between parameters reflective of angiogenesis, and p53 expression in HCCs. VEGF overexpression exhibited a significant correlation with viremia and survival.
authors.affiliation: Division of Hepato-Gastroenterology, Department of Internal Medicine, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Kaohsiung Medical Center, Chang Gung University College of Medicine, Kaohsiung, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Po-Lin
authors.initials: PL
authors.lastname: Tseng
authors.forename: Ming-Hong
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Tai
authors.forename: Chao-Cheng
authors.initials: CC
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.forename: Chih-Chi
authors.initials: CC
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Jui-Wei
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.forename: Chao-Hung
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Hung
authors.forename: Chien-Hung
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Jing-Houng
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Sheng-Nan
authors.initials: SN
authors.lastname: Lu
authors.forename: Chuan-Mo
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Chi-Sin
authors.initials: CS
authors.lastname: Changchien
authors.forename: Tsung-Hui
authors.initials: TH
authors.lastname: Hu
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000098:blood supply / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D015870:Gene Expression; D016158:Genes, p53 / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000098:blood supply / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D009389:Neovascularization, Pathologic / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D012737:Sex Factors; D015854:Up-Regulation; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D000509:alpha-Fetoproteins / Q000032:analysis
chemical_list: C467484:VEGFA protein, human; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; D000509:alpha-Fetoproteins