EXPRESSION OF VASCULAR ENDOTHELIAL GROWTH-FACTOR IN NORMAL LIVER AND HEPATOCELLULAR-CARCINOMA - AN IMMUNOHISTOCHEMICAL STUDY

Angiogenesis is of vital importance during the development and progres sion of solid tumors. To examine the role of vascular endothelial grow th factor (VEGF) in hepatocarcinogenesis, we evaluated the expression of peptide in normal human liver (n = 6) and in 36 cases of hepatocell ular carcinoma (HCC). Immunoreactivity for VEGF was present in the ext racellular matrix of the portal tracts in the normal and nontumor part of liver, but not in hepatocytes and bile duct epithelium. For HCC, v ariable amounts of VEGF were expressed in 13 cases (36.1%) of tumor ce lls. Using a logistic regression model, expression of VEGF was signifi cantly associated with a higher proliferative index (P = .01) and sono graphic portal vein thrombosis (P = .05). However, VEGF expression did not correlate with a biochemical liver profile, alpha-fetoprotein lev els, histological grading, gender, or clinical stage of cirrhosis (P > 0.1, respectively). Log-rank test showed that evaluation of VEGF did not provide more prognostic information (P > .5) than that from tumor volume and portal vein thrombosis (P < .01, respectively). In addition , VEGF was always present in the fibrovascular stroma or pericellular matrix of HCC, although no strong relationship was observed with the e xpression of VEGF in tumor cells (P > .5). Our data suggested that exp ression of VEGF may characterize a progression toward higher prolifera tion in hepatocarcinogenesis in vivo. The relevance of VEGF existing i n the extracellular matrix of the normal liver and HCC remains to be c larified. Copyright (C) 1997 by W.B. Saunders Company.