title: Expression and prognostic value of VEGFR-2, PDGFR-β, and c-Met in advanced hepatocellular carcinoma.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  We explore the clinical and prognostic significance of expression of vascular endothelial growth factor receptor (VEGFR)-2, platelet-derived growth factor receptor (PDGFR)-β, and c-Met in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).
  
  
  METHODS
  The expression of VEGFR-2, PDGFR-β, and c-Met were determined by immunohistochemical examination of the tissues of 93 HCC patients. The relationships of these markers with clinicopathological factors and prognosis were then analyzed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  High expression of VEGFR-2, PDGFR-β, and c-Met was found in 86%, 19.4%, and 80.6% of patients, respectively. Expression of VEGFR-2 correlated with gender (P = 0.044), hepatitis B surface antigen positivity (P = 0.024), degree of tumor differentiation (P = 0.023), and hepatic cirrhosis (P = 0.026). Expression of PDGFR-β correlated with alpha-fetoprotein level (P = 0.029), tumor size (P = 0.033), and hepatic cirrhosis (P = 0.023). No significant correlations were identified between expression of c-Met and clinicopathological factors. Expression of PDGFR-β correlated with overall survival (P = 0.046) and expression of c-Met correlated with progression-free survival (P = 0.01).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  We found that in patients with HCC, high expression of VEGFR-2 correlates with chronic hepatitis B virus infection and hepatic cirrhosis. High expression of PDGFR-β is a predictor of poor prognosis. High expression of C-Met may predict therapeutic effectiveness of sorafenib in HCC patients.
authors.affiliation: The Affiliated Hospital Cancer Center, Academy of Military Medical Sciences, Beijing 100071, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Jie Sheng
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Chu
authors.forename: Fei Jiao
authors.initials: FJ
authors.lastname: Ge
authors.forename: Bo
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Yan
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Nicola
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Silvestris
authors.forename: Lie Jun
authors.initials: LJ
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Chuan Hua
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Zhao
authors.forename: Li
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.forename: Anna Elisabetta
authors.initials: AE
authors.lastname: Brunetti
authors.forename: Ya Li
authors.initials: YL
authors.lastname: Fu
authors.forename: Jun
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Angelo
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Paradiso
authors.forename: Jian Ming
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Xu
mesh_terms: D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011379:Prognosis; D019859:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-met / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D020797:Receptor, Platelet-Derived Growth Factor beta / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D016019:Survival Analysis; D040301:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptor-2 / Q000096:biosynthesis*
chemical_list: D019859:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-met; D020797:Receptor, Platelet-Derived Growth Factor beta; D040301:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptor-2
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