Correlation between vascular endothelial growth factor expression and clinicopathological features of human hepatocellular carcinoma

We examined 142 human hepatocellular carcinomas (HCCs) and analyzed the relationship of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) expression with clinicopathological parameters such as angiographic stain and histological features of microvessels. Statistic analysis demonstrated that VEGF expression was well correlated with tumor size, factor VIII-related antigen expression and preferentially arterial blood supply, suggesting that large-sized, arterialized HCCs with capillary structures may require VEGF for their growth. When analysis was limited to small HCCs, it was clearly shown that the growth type of tumors was more important for VEGF expression than the grade of histological differentiation.