The main aims of this study were to analyze the significance of serum vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) levels in the development of hepatocellular carcinoma, and the effect of transcatheter arterial embolization treatment on the production of VEGF. Serum VEGF levels in hepatocellular carcinoma were significantly higher than in liver cirrhosis (P<0.01) but not significantly different from normal controls. Serum VEGF levels in cirrhosis decreased gradually as the Pugh-Child grade increased in severity. In hepatocellular carcinoma serum VEGF levels were not related to the tumor stage or serum levels of the tumor markers, cr-fetoprotein and des-gamma-carboxy prothrombin. In 18 patients who underwent transcatheter arterial embolization, serum VEGF increased gradually and reached a peak at day 7, although serum interleukin-6 and hepatocyte growth factor levels peaked at days 1-3 and then decreased. VEGF levels were elevated significantly in patients who did not respond to transcatheter arterial embolization treatment as compared to those who responded to this treatment (P<0.05). Serum VEGF levels may be useful in the assessment of hepatocellular carcinoma patients and may indicate responsiveness to transcatheter arterial embolization.

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