RESUMO
Objective To prospectively evaluate changes in serum vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) levels in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) before and after transcatheter arterial chemoembolization (TACE), and to investigate the association between serum VEGF levels and characters of imaging features. Methods Serum VEGF levels in 30 patients with HCC were measured on one day before TACE 3-4 days and 28-30 days after TACE, using quatitative sandwich enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA R&D system). The occurrence of metastasis was assessed 6 months after TACE by CT (computed tomography) and DSA (digital subtraction angiography). Results (1) Serum VEGF levels had a tendency to increase in patients with the heterogenous uptake of iodine oil and those with portal vein invasion (P