Increased Expression of Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor in Hepatocellular Carcinoma after Transcatheter Arterial Chemoembolization

• Published in: Acta radiologica (1987) 2008-06, Vol.49 (5), p.523-529
• Main Authors: Wang, B., Xu, H., Gao, Z. Q., Ning, H. F., Sun, Y. Q., Cao, G. W.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Biological and medical sciences; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular - metabolism; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular - pathology; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular - therapy; Cell Count; Chemoembolization, Therapeutic - adverse effects; Chemoembolization, Therapeutic - methods; Gastroenterology. Liver. Pancreas. Abdomen; Humans; Immunohistochemistry; Investigative techniques, diagnostic techniques (general aspects); Liver - blood supply; Liver - drug effects; Liver - metabolism; Liver Neoplasms - metabolism; Liver Neoplasms - pathology; Liver Neoplasms - therapy; Liver. Biliary tract. Portal circulation. Exocrine pancreas; Medical sciences; Neoplasm, Residual - blood supply; Neoplasm, Residual - metabolism; Neoplasm, Residual - pathology; Neovascularization, Pathologic; Tumors; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A - biosynthesis
• ISSN: 0284-1851; 1600-0455
• DOI: 10.1080/02841850801958890

Background: Changes in the biological behavior of residual viable hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) tissue after transcatheter arterial chemoembolization (TACE) remain unclear. Several studies have reported that TACE inhibits tumor angiogenesis and induces tumor cell apoptosis, while other studies have found that TACE stimulates tumor angiogenesis and thus increases the proliferative activity of the tumor cells to some degree. Purpose: To investigate the intratumoral microvessel density (MVD) and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) expression in residual surviving cancerous tissue after TACE in HCC. Material and Methods: Tumor specimens from 63 histopathologically diagnosed patients were studied: 42 comprising the control group (treated by surgery alone) and 21 comprising the TACE group (those treated by TACE 1-2 times prior to surgical resection). The number of VEGF-positive cells, MVD, and microvessel diameter were measured. Results: The MVD was 51.69±18.17 and 58.57±15.75 in the control and TACE groups, respectively. There was no significant difference between the two groups (t=1.48, P>0.05). The microvessel diameter was 17.62±10.54 µm and 15.79±7.65 µm in the control and TACE groups, respectively, indicating no significant difference between the two groups (t=0.71, P>0.05). The number of VEGF-positive cells in the TACE group, i.e., 243.66±88.88, was higher than that in the control group, i.e., 138.26±65.24 (t=5.34, P