OBJECTIVE: To investigate the significance of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in the pathogenesis of liver cirrhosis and the correlation between VEGF and proto-oncogene c-fos and c-myc in cirrhotic liver. METHODS: The proteins of VEGF, c-fos, and c-myc were identified immunohistochemically in each tissue section of 53 cases of liver cirrhosis. The correlations between VEGF, c-fos and c-myc were analyzed. The levels of VEGF protein in different Child gradings were also compared. RESULTS: The proteins of VEGF were more highly expressed in Child A and B patients than in Child C patients and controls. The expressions of both c-fos and c-myc were not statistically significant between VEGF positive and negative patients. CONCLUSIONS: The protein level of VEGF can reflect the compensation status of cirrhosis patients and may act as an anti-cirrhotic factor. The proto-oncogene c-fos, c-myc and VEGF may have different mechanisms in the course of cirrhosis or hepatic tumorigenesis.
OBJECTIVE: To investigate the significance of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in the pathogenesis of liver cirrhosis and the correlation between VEGF and proto-oncogene c-fos and c-myc in cirrhotic liver. METHODS: The proteins of VEGF, c-fos, and c-myc were identified immunohistochemically in each tissue section of 53 cases of liver cirrhosis. The correlations between VEGF, c-fos and c-myc were analyzed. The levels of VEGF protein in different Child gradings were also compared. RESULTS: The proteins of VEGF were more highly expressed in Child A and B patients than in Child C patients and controls. The expressions of both c-fos and c-myc were not statistically significant between VEGF positive and negative patients. CONCLUSIONS: The protein level of VEGF can reflect the compensation status of cirrhosispatients and may act as an anti-cirrhotic factor. The proto-oncogene c-fos, c-myc and VEGF may have different mechanisms in the course of cirrhosis or hepatic tumorigenesis.