VEGF Expression and its Clinical Significance in Human Liver Cancer Specimens / 中国医师杂志

Objective To explore the roles of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in microvessel angiogennesis, development and metastasis of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Methods The expression and cellular distributions of VEGF in HCCs were investigated by immunohistochemical method, and the levels of total RNA and VEGF also were quantitatively analysed in HCCs and paracancerous tissues. Results The positive rates of VEGF were 63 9% in all HCCs, 78 3% in non-encapsuled HCCs, and 90 9% in HCCs with extra-hepatic metastasis, respectively. VEGF expression was not associated with tumor size and differentiation degree. The total RNA level in HCCs was significantly lower than that in paracancerous and distal paracancerous tissues (P