The Relationship Between CT Features and the Expressions of VEGF, bFGF and Some Apoptosis Proteins in Hepatocellular Carcinoma

Objective To detect the relationship between CT features and the expressions of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) and some apoptosis relative proteins including fas, bax, bcl-2 and bcl-xl in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).Methods Thirty-eight cases (40 lesions) with HCC verified by histopathology and examined with enhancement dual-phase CT scanning (arterial phase and portal vein phase) were included in this study. The expressions of VEGF, bFGF, fas, bax, bcl-2 and bcl-xl were detected with immunohistochemical SP method. The CT features were compared with the immunohistochemical and pathological results.Results The positive rate of VEGF,bFGF,fas,bax,bcl-2 and bcl-xl was 77.5%(31/40),75%(30/40),20%(8/40),25%(10/40),27.5%(11/40) and 50%(20/40) in HCC respectively.The correlations between VEGF and bFGF or bcl-2,between bax and bcl-2 or bFGF,and between bcl-2 and bcl-xl were found in this study (Ρ0.05).As for the relationship of CT features and other results,there were close correcations between bcl-xl expression and the diameter of lesion on image (Ρ0.05),between the patterns of lesion edge on CT images and VEGF expression or pathological grade (Ρ0.05),between the intratumoral deliquescence and necrosis on the images and pathological grade (Ρ0.01),and between the enhancement patterns or the high infiltration and severity (intrahepatic daughter foci,tumor-emboli in portal veins,lymphatic metastasis) shown on CT images and the diameters of the tumors (Ρ0.05).Conclusion Some CT features of HCC can reflect the expressions of VEGF and bcl-xl in certain degree,and the CT features also are influenced by some other factors.