Korean J Hepatol.  2001 Mar;7(1):47-54.

Implications of Serum Levels of Basic Fibroblast Growth Factor and Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor in Chronic Liver Diseases and Hepatocellular Carcinoma

• Yoo SJ
• Jung SM
• Kim JG
• Lee JO
• Song YW
• Han CJ
• Jung SH
• Kim YC
• Kim CM
• Lee JO
• Hong YJ
• Hong SI

Abstract

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Angiogenesis occurs in response to tissue damage, and is of vital importance for tumor growth and metastasis. Basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) are potent angiogenic factors, and have been suggested to be useful diagnostic markers in certain hypervascular tumors. However, little is known of serum bFGF and VEGF in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). We attempted to measure serum bFGF and VEGF in patients with chronic liver diseases (CLD) and HCC to assess their pathogenetic role and usability as tumor markers.
METHODS
Serum bFGF and VEGF were measured in 8 patients with chronic hepatitis (CH), 15 patients with liver cirrhosis (LC), and 49 patients with HCC. bFGF was measured in 33, and VEGF was measured in 50, healthy blood donors.
RESULTS
Serum bFGF was 3.8+/-1.9, 2.0+/-1.4, 4.2+/-6.0, 17.4+/-30.0 pg/mL in normal control, CH, LC, HCC, respectively. The serum bFGF level was significantly increased in patients with HCC when compared with normal control or patients with CLD. No difference, however, was observed in serum VEGF levels among the four groups. The serum levels of bFGF and VEGF were not significantly different in patients with HCC according to tumor type, size and stage. Serum bFGF showed good sensitivity (90%), specificity (87%), and positive predictive value (94%) in differentiating patients with HCC from those with CLD at the cut-off value of 4.6 pg/mL.
CONCLUSIONS
bFGF might play a role in the growth of HCC and its serum level might be used as a tumor marker. On the other hand, serum VEGF does not seem to be an adequate tumor marker.

Keyword

Chronic liver disease; Neoplasm/Liver/Hepatocellular carcinoma; bFGF; VEGF; Angiogenesis

MeSH Terms

Angiogenesis Inducing Agents
Blood Donors
Carcinoma, Hepatocellular*
Fibroblast Growth Factor 2*
Hand
Hepatitis, Chronic
Humans
Liver Cirrhosis
Liver Diseases*
Liver*
Neoplasm Metastasis
Sensitivity and Specificity
Biomarkers, Tumor
Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A*
Angiogenesis Inducing Agents
Fibroblast Growth Factor 2
Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A