CLINICAL-SIGNIFICANCE OF VASCULAR ENDOTHELIAL GROWTH-FACTOR AND BASICFIBROBLAST GROWTH-FACTOR GENE-EXPRESSION IN LIVER TURNER

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a typical hypervascular tumor. Howev er, the relationship between the vascularity of HCC and the expression of angiogenic factors has not been investigated. In addition, no deta iled studies have examined the possible involvement of angiogenic fact ors in the grade of malignancy of HCC. The aim of this study was to de termine which angiogenic factors regulate tumor angiogenesis and contr ibute to the invasive ability of liver tumors, especially of HCC. Nort hern blot analysis was used to examine the transcriptional expression of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), basic fibroblast growth factor (FGF), and acidic FGF in resected surgical specimens (20 HCC an d 9 metastatic liver tumors). Correlations between messenger RNA (mRNA ) expression and arteriographic findings, as well as histopathological findings, were evaluated. Immunohistochemistry was performed to ident ify the localization of cells expressing VEGF in HCC. Higher levels of VEGF mRNA were observed in 12 of 20 HCC and in 2 of 9 metastatic live r tumors than in corresponding nontumorous tissues, The degree of VEGF mRNA expression was significantly correlated with the intensity of tu mor staining in angiograms (P < .01). On immunohistochemical observati on, VEGF protein was intensely detected in HCC cells. Furthermore, bas ic FGF mRNA was detected in 9 of 20 HCC and was related to the capsula r infiltration of cancer cells (P < .05). In contrast, no significant difference was observed in the very low levels of acidic FGF mRNA foun d in the tumorous and nontumorous portions of the Liver. In conclusion , these results suggest that VEGF contributes to angiogenesis of liver tumors, whereas basic FGF may be involved in the invasion of HCC into the surrounding tissues.