Expression of platelet-derived endothelial cell growth factor and vascularendothelial growth factor in hepatocellular carcinoma and portal vein tumor thrombus

Purpose: Both platelet-derived endothelial cell growth factor (PD-ECGF) and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) are known to promote the develop ment of new blood vessels, which are fundamental to tumor growth and metast asis. We aimed at evaluating the gene expression of PD-ECGF and VEGF in hep atocellular carcinoma (HCC) and portal vein tumor thrombus (PVTT). Patients and methods: Surgical specimens (28 HCC, 28 nontumorous liver tissues and IS PVTT) were studied by Northern blot analysis. The levels of PD-ECGF mRNA and VEGF mRNA expression were measured by densitometric scanning of the au toradiographs, and they were normalized to the level of expression of an in ternal control (glyceraldehyde-phosphate dehydrogenase) mRNA. Results: The expression rates of PD-ECGF mRNA in PVTT, HCC and nontumorous liver tissues were 77.8% (14/18), 67.9% (19/28) and 35.7% (10/28), being 88.9% (16/18), 75.0% (21/28) and 17.9% (5/28) respectively for VEGF mRNA. The expressions of PD-ECGF mRNA and VEGF mRNA were higher in HCC with PVTT than when PVTT w as absent (P < 0.05). The PVTT was more often seen in patients with positiv e expression of both PD-ECGF mRNA and VEGF mRNA in HCC than in patients who were positive for only one of these factors or negative for both (P < 0.05 ). Conclusion: Both PD-ECGF and VEGF correlated well with the formation of PVTT of HCC.