Expression of vascular endothelial growth factor in hepatocellular carcinoma and its relationship to tumor growth and metastasis

Abstract

To understand the relationship between the expression of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and the growth, metastasis of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), immunohistochemistry and Northern blot were used to investigate VEGF protein and mRNA in 21 cases of HCC with and without metastasis. VEGF protein was found in 8 of 9 cases with metastasis, whereas only in 4 of 12 cases without metastasis. The positive rate of the former was significantly higher than that in the latter. VEGF mRNA was detectable in both carcinoma and its surrounding liver tissues, but its level in the former was 2–3 times higher than that in the latter. In carcinoma with metastasis, the mRNA level was 5–6 times higher than that without metastasis. It is concluded that VEGF is closely related to the growth of HCC as well as its metastasis and it might be a useful indicator for the metastatic potential of HCC.

Keywords

vascular endothelial growth factor / hepatocellular carcinoma / metastasis

References

[1] FerraraN, HenzelW J. Pi-uitary follicular cells secrete a novel heparin — binding growth factor specific for vascular endothelial cells. Boichem Biophys Res Commun, 1989, 161: 851-851

[2] SambrookJ, FritschE F, ManiatisJ. Molecular cloning: a laboratory manual, 19892nd ed.New YorkCold Spring Harbor Lab PressB1-B1

[3] DvorakH F, BrownL F, DetmarM, et al.. Vascular permeability factor (vascular endothelial growth factor), microvascular hyperpermeability and angiogenesis. Am J Pathol, 1995, 146: 1029-1029

[4] Oyata Y. The expression of vascular endothelial growth factor in esophageal cancer tissue. 87th Meeting of American Association for Cancer Research, 1996 (abstr)

[5] Shih C. The relationship between angiogenesis and vascular endothelial growth factor expression in squamous cell carcinoma of the esophagus. 87th Meeting of American Association for Cancer Research 1996 (abstr).

[6] MaedaK, ChungY S, OgawaY, et al.. Prognostic value of vascular endothelial growth factor expression in gastric carcinoma. Cancer, 1996, 77: 858-858

[7] ShweikiD, NeemanM, ItinA, et al.. Induction of vascular endothelial growth factor expression by hypoxia and by glucose deficiency in multicell sphedoids: implication for tumor angiogenesis. Proc Natl Acad USA, 1995, 92: 768-768

[8] RakJ, FilmusJ, FinkenzellerG, et al.. Oncogenes as inducers of tumor angiogenesis. Cancer and Metastasis Rev, 1995, 14: 263-263

[9] WarrenR S, YuanH, MatliM R, et al.. Regulation by vascular endothelial growth factor of human colon cancer tumorigenesis in a mouse model of experimental liver metastasis. J Clin Invest, 1995, 95: 1789-1789

[10] MelnykO, ShumanM A, KimK J. Vascular endothelial growth factor promotes tumor dissemination by a mechanism distinct from its effect on primary tumor growth. Cancer Res, 1996, 56: 921-921