Expressions of Survivin and vascular endothelial growth factor in hepatocellular carcinoma and their clinical significance / 南方医科大学学报

ABSTRACT

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To assess the correlations between Survivin and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and their clinical significance.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>The expressions of Survivin and VEGF in 50 HCC specimens and 20 normal hepatic tissue specimens were detected by immunohistochemistry, and the results were analyzed in relation to the patients' clinicopathologic characteristics.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Of the 50 HCC specimens, 32 (64.0%) were positive for Survivin expression, and 34 (68.0%) were positive for VEGF expression. Survivin expression was not detected in normal hepatic tissues, and 2 (10%) of these tissues were positive for VEGF, showing significant difference in Survivin and VEGF expressions between HCC specimens and normal hepatic tissues. Survivin and VEGF expressions were not correlated to the patients' gender, age, tumor size, degree of differentiation and alpha fetoprotein level (P<0.05), but related to the clinical stage and lymph node metastasis of HCC (P<0.05). Correlation analysis indicated a close correlation between the expressions of survivin and VEGF in the HCC specimens (chi 2=6.69, P<0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Survivin and VEGF are over-expressed in HCC tissues, and may theoretically serve as the targets of molecular targeted drugs. Detection of the expressions of Survivin and VEGF in HCC tissues may provide assistance for prognostic evaluation of the patients.</p>