Increased expression of vascular endothelial growth factor in small hepatocellular carcinoma

Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) is involved in both development and progression of several epithelial tumours, but its role in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is unclear. Assessment of liver and blood levels of VEGF may provide further insights on angiogenesis in HCC. Tissue mRNA of VEGF‐165, VEGF‐189 and their receptor KDR was assessed by a semi‐quantitative retro‐transcriptase polymerase chain reaction, and expressed as target transcript/beta‐actin ratio, in 29 patients with HCC, 26 with cirrhosis and 15 with chronic hepatitis. VEGF‐165 was also measured by ELISA in plasma samples obtained from both hepatic and femoral veins in additional 58 patients, including 15 with HCC. The liver expression of mRNA of VEGF‐165, VEGF‐189 and KDR was higher in HCC than in chronic liver diseases (1.54 ± 0.89 vs 0.62 ± 0.47, P