title: [Prognostic significance of serum level of vascular endothelial growth factor receptor-2 in hepatocellular carcinoma patients after transcatheter arterial chemoembolization].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To explore the prognostic significance of serum vascular endothelial growth factor receptor-2 (VEGFR-2) in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) after transcatheter arterial chemoembolization (TACE).
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 69 HCC patients undergoing TACE from October 2008 to April 2012 were recruited and examined. Their serum level of VEGFR-2 level was measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The relationship between VEGFR-2 and their clinicopathologic features were observed. Prognostic significance of VEGFR-2 was assessed for their survival.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Significant differences existed when the serum level of VEGFR-2 was categorized by tumor number and liver cirrhosis (P = 0.021, P = 0.049). The post-treatment serum level of VEGFR-2 was significant higher than that at pre-treatment (P = 0.045). When the mean pre-treatment serum level of VEGFR-2 (8709 ng/L) was used as a cut-off point, the patients with a low serum level of VEGFR-2 had better overall and progression-free survival than those with a high serum level of VEGF (17 vs. 28 months, P = 0.001 and 10 vs. 15 months P = 0.031 respectively). As revealed by multivariate Cox analysis, the pre-treatment serum level of VEGFR-2 was an independent and significant prognostic factor of survival for HCC patients at post-TACE.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The pre-treatment serum level of VEGFR-2 may predict the post-TACE prognosis in HCC patients.
authors: Department of Interventional Radiology, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China.
authors: Qing-wen
authors: QW
authors: Meng
authors: Yong
authors: Y
authors: Li
authors: Bao-shan
authors: BS
authors: Hu
authors: Pei-jian
authors: PJ
authors: Shao
authors: Mei-xiao
authors: MX
authors: Zhan
authors: Xian-yi
authors: XY
authors: Yu
authors: Li-gong
authors: LG
authors: Lu
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000097:blood*; D016461:Chemoembolization, Therapeutic; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000097:blood*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011379:Prognosis; D040301:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptor-2 / Q000097:blood*
chemical_list: C000588866:KDR protein, human; D040301:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptor-2