Circulating levels of VEGF family and their receptors in hepatocellular carcinoma.

To analyze the serum levels and prognostic significance of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) family (VEGF-A, -C and -D) and their receptors (VEGFR-1 and -2) in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma. The serum levels of VEGF family members were measured in 56 control subjects and 68 patients with hepatocellular carcinoma using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). These measurements were correlated with clinic pathological features. The serum levels of VEGF-A and its receptor, VEGFR-1, were significantly higher in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma than in controls (p < 0.001). There was no significant difference in serum levels of VEGF-C and VEGFR-2 between patients and controls. VEGF-A levels were associated with advanced tumor stage and presence of metastases. VEGFR-1 was associated with metastases, advanced overall stage, tumor differentiation. VEGFR-2 levels were associated with poor tumor differentiation. Serum VEGF levels are significantly in the same cohort of patients with variable clinic pathological features and prognostic values. The measurement of VEGF-A and its VEGFR-1 levels in sera may reflect the development of tumor, metastasis and angiogenesis (Tab. 2, Ref. 20).