title: Circulating levels of VEGF family and their receptors in hepatocellular carcinoma.
abstract: To analyze the serum levels and prognostic significance of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) family (VEGF-A, -C and -D) and their receptors (VEGFR-1 and -2) in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma. The serum levels of VEGF family members were measured in 56 control subjects and 68 patients with hepatocellular carcinoma using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). These measurements were correlated with clinic pathological features. The serum levels of VEGF-A and its receptor, VEGFR-1, were significantly higher in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma than in controls (p < 0.001). There was no significant difference in serum levels of VEGF-C and VEGFR-2 between patients and controls. VEGF-A levels were associated with advanced tumor stage and presence of metastases. VEGFR-1 was associated with metastases, advanced overall stage, tumor differentiation. VEGFR-2 levels were associated with poor tumor differentiation. Serum VEGF levels are significantly in the same cohort of patients with variable clinic pathological features and prognostic values. The measurement of VEGF-A and its VEGFR-1 levels in sera may reflect the development of tumor, metastasis and angiogenesis (Tab. 2, Ref. 20).
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry, Cerrahpasa Medical Faculty, University of Istanbul, Turkey.
authors.forename: O
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Kemik
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sumer
authors.forename: Sarbay A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Kemik
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Purisa
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Tuzun
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000097:blood; D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000097:blood* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000473:pathology; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000097:blood* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D040262:Receptors, Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor / Q000097:blood*; D042442:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factors / Q000097:blood*
chemical_list: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D042442:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factors; D040262:Receptors, Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor