[Expression rates of three angiogenic factors in hepatocellular carcinoma and their relation with microvessel density and portal vein tumor thrombosis].

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the expression rates of the three angiogenic factors-basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF), vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), and platelet-derived endothelial cell growth factor (PD-ECGF) in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and to investigate the relation of their expression rates to the microvessel density (MVD) of the tumor and to the formation of portal vein tumor thrombus (PVTT).

METHODS

Immunohistochemical staining was conducted on 61specimens of hepatic cell carcinoma removed in operation.

RESULTS

The expression rates of dFGF, VEGF, and PD-ECGF in HCC tissue were 45.9%, 75.4% and 70.5% respectively. The incidence rates of PVTT while all of the 3 angiogenic factor were negatively expressed, one of them was positively expressed, two of them were positively expressed, and all of them were positively expressed were 16.7%, 25.0%, 54.2% and 63.2% respectively (P < 0.05, test for trend). The MVD counts in HCC tissue in the above-mentioned four conditions were 99 +/- 56, 113 +/- 27, 140 +/- 347 and 194 +/- 52 respectively (P < 0.001, ANOVA test).

CONCLUSION

As the number of positively expressed angiogenic factors in HCC tissue increases, the angiogenic capability of the tumor enhances greatly, and the incidence rate of PVTT increases too.