Brief Articles
Copyright ©2009 The WJG Press and Baishideng. All rights reserved.
World J Gastroenterol. Sep 28, 2009; 15(36): 4582-4586
Published online Sep 28, 2009. doi: 10.3748/wjg.15.4582
Effect of preoperative transcatheter arterial chemoembolization on angiogenesis of hepatocellular carcinoma cells
En-Hua Xiao, Dong Guo, Du-Jun Bian
En-Hua Xiao, Dong Guo, Du-Jun Bian, Department of Radiology, the Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha 410011, Hunan Province, China
Author contributions: Xiao EH designed the research; Xiao EH, Guo D and Bian DJ performed the research; Guo D and Bian DJ contributed new reagents/analytic tools; Xiao EH, Guo D and Bian DJ analyzed the data; Xiao EH and Guo D wrote the paper.
Supported by The National Science and Technology Projects of 11th Five-Year Plan, No. 2007BAI05B06; the National Council of Natural Sciences of China, No. 30070235, 30470508, 30870695, the Provincial Council of Natural Sciences of Hunan, No. 06JJ20081
Correspondence to: Dr. En-Hua Xiao, Department of Radiology, the Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha 410011, Hunan Province, China. cjr.xiaoenhua@vip.163.com
Telephone: +86-731-85292116 Fax: +86-731-85533525
Received: May 7, 2009
Revised: July 30, 2009
Accepted: August 6, 2009
Published online: September 28, 2009
Abstract

AIM: To evaluate the effects of four types of preoperative transcatheter arterial chemoembolization (TACE) on angiogenesis of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) cells.

METHODS: A total of 136 patients with HCC underwent liver resection. One to five courses of TACE prior to liver resection were performed in 79 patients (TACE group), in which one to four courses of chemotherapy alone were performed in 11 patients (group A); one to five courses of chemotherapy combined with iodized oil were performed in 33 patients (group B); one to three courses of chemotherapy combined with iodized oil and gelatin sponge were performed in 23 patients (group C); one to three courses of chemotherapy combined with iodized oil, ethanol and gelatin sponge were performed in 12 patients (group D). The other 57 patients only received liver resection (non-TACE group). The microvessels were marked by CD31. The expression of CD31 and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) protein were detected by immunohistochemical methods.

RESULTS: The mean microvessel density (MVD) in HCC cells was significantly higher in groups A, B, C and D than in the non-TACE group (P < 0.05). The expression of VEGF protein in HCC cells were significantly higher in groups A, B, C and D than in the non-TACE group (P < 0.05). MVD and the expression of VEGF protein were positively correlated. Mean MVD and the expression of VEGF protein were closely related to the number of courses of TACE and the interval of TACE.

CONCLUSION: Four different types of preoperative TACE regimens enhanced angiogenesis in HCC cells by up-regulating the expression of VEGF protein. It is necessary to repress angiogenesis of liver cancer after TACE.

Keywords: Angiogenesis, Hepatocellular carcinoma, Immunohistochemistry, Transcatheter arterial chemoembolization, Vascular endothelial growth factor