Vascular endothelial growth factor receptor-1 levels in hepatocellular carcinoma and correlations with clinicopathological features.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND/AIMS: To determine the serum vascular endothelial growth factor receptor-1 (VEGFR-1) levels in hepatocellular carcinoma patients and its correlations with the clinical and laboratory parameters. METHODOLOGY: Serum VEGFR-1 levels were measured in 18 biopsy-proven treatment-naive hepatocellular carcinoma patients (female/male 5/13; mean age 59.22 +/- 13.15 years) and in age- and sex-matched healthy controls. Possible associations were also evaluated between serum VEGFR-1 levels and etiology and severity of chronic liver disease, serum alpha-fetoprotein levels, presence of ascites and portal vein thrombosis, and tumor number, size and stage. RESULTS: Serum VEGFR-1 levels were undetectable in all healthy subjects, while all of the patients with hepatocellular carcinoma had increased VEGFR-1 (p < 0.001). Serum VEGFR-1 levels did not correlate with the clinical and laboratory parameters and tumor characteristics in hepatocellular carcinoma. CONCLUSIONS: VEGFR-1 is involved in the regulation of carcinogenesis in hepatocellular carcinoma.