title: The prognostic value of vascular endothelial growth factor in hepatocellular carcinoma for predicting metastasis after curative resection.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) frequently recurs even after curative resection. The purpose of this study was to identify factors predictive for postoperative recurrence of HCC in patients who underwent curative resection using immunohistochemistry.
  
  
  METHODS
  Expression of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), E-cadherin and cyclin D1 in HCC tissue were analyzed for 133 HCC patients who underwent curative resection of tumors using immunohistochemical analysis. Relationships of expressions and disease-free survival of HCC were evaluated using univariate and multivariate analyses.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The average period of follow-up of the patients was 6.7 years. Multivariate analyses revealed that only strong expression of VEGF in HCC tissue was significantly associated with metastatic recurrence (p < 0.001, hazard ratio, HR, 3.32).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Evaluating VEGF in HCC tissue after surgical resection has predictive value for metastatic HCC recurrence. The ability to risk stratify should improve the treatment strategies after hepatectomy.
authors: Department of Medicine and Clinical Science, Kyoto University Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto, Japan.
authors: Mutsuko
authors: M
authors: Minata
authors: Kouji H
authors: KH
authors: Harada
authors: Masatoshi
authors: M
authors: Kudo
authors: Iwao
authors: I
authors: Ikai
authors: Naoshi
authors: N
authors: Nishida
mesh_terms: D015820:Cadherins / Q000378:metabolism; D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000556:secondary* / Q000601:surgery; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D019938:Cyclin D1 / Q000378:metabolism; D018572:Disease-Free Survival; D005260:Female; D006498:Hepatectomy; D006801:Humans; D053208:Kaplan-Meier Estimate; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / Q000378:metabolism*; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D016016:Proportional Hazards Models; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D015820:Cadherins; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; D019938:Cyclin D1