High expressions of vascular endothelial growth factor and platelet-derived endothelial cell growth factor predict poor prognosis in alpha-fetoprotein-negative hepatocellular carcinoma patients after curative resection.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the prognosis value of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and platelet-derived endothelial cell growth factor (PD-ECGF) in alpha-fetoprotein (AFP)-negative hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) patients after curative resection.


METHODS
Tumor tissue microarrays (TMAs) were used to detect the expressions of VEGF and PD-ECGF in consecutive 162 AFP-negative HCC patients undergoing curative resection between 1997 and 2000 in our institute. Clinicopathologic data for these patients were evaluated. The prognostic significance was assessed using Kaplan-Meier survival estimates and log-rank tests. Multivariate study with Cox's proportional hazard model was used to evaluate the prognosis-related aspects.


RESULTS
The positive rates of VEGF and PD-ECGF in tumor tissues were 59.9% (97/162) and 62.3% (101/162), respectively. Univariate analysis showed that VEGF and PD-ECGF were prognostic factors for relapse-free survival (P = 0.034 and P = 0.033, respectively). Multivariate analyses demonstrated that the co-index (VEGF/PD-ECGF) was an independent prognostic factor for overall survival and relapse-free survival (P = 0.002 and P = 0.000, respectively).


CONCLUSIONS
The co-index of VEGF and PD-ECGF is a promising independent predictor for recurrence and survival of AFP-negative HCC patients after curative resection.
Key Laboratory for Carcinogenesis & Cancer Invasion, The Chinese Ministry of Education, Liver Cancer Institute, Zhong Shan Hospital and Shanghai Medical School, Fudan University, 200032 Shanghai, People's Republic of China.
Jie
J
Hu
Yang
Y
Xu
Zao-Zhuo
ZZ
Shen
Zheng
Z
Wang
Qing
Q
Lu
Guo-Huan
GH
Yang
Zheng-Bin
ZB
Ding
Jia
J
Fan
Jian
J
Zhou
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000378:metabolism; D015153:Blotting, Western; D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000556:secondary / Q000601:surgery; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007124:Immunoenzyme Techniques; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D011379:Prognosis; D015996:Survival Rate; D013939:Thymidine Phosphorylase / Q000378:metabolism*; D046888:Tissue Array Analysis; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / Q000378:metabolism*; D000509:alpha-Fetoproteins / Q000378:metabolism*
D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; C467484:VEGFA protein, human; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; D000509:alpha-Fetoproteins; D013939:Thymidine Phosphorylase