Apatinib combined with arterial embolism intervention for liver cancer and its effect on vascular endothelial growth factors and apoptosis related factors

Objective To investigate the effect of apatinib combined with arterial embolism intervention for liver cancer and its effect on vascular endothelial growth factors (VEGF) and apoptosis related factors. Methods Eighty-six patients with liver cancer treated at our hospital from February, 2015 to August, 2016 were equally divided into a combination group and a control group by random number table method. Both groups were treated with arterial embolism intervention; in addition, the combination group was treated with apatinib. The clinical curative effects were observed in both groups after the treatment. The changes of VEGF and apoptosis related factors P53 and Caspase-8 in both groups before and after treatment were analyzed. Results After thetreatment, the total effective rate was significantly higher in the combination group than in the control group (74.42% vs. 51.16%, P<0.05). 30 days after the treatment, the VEGF was (90.2±25.6) pg/ml and decreased significantly, P53 and Caspase-8 were (140.29±11.2) % and (139.2±11.6) mg/L and increased significantly in the combination group. The VEGF was significantly lower and P53 and Caspase-8 were significantly higher in combination group than in the control group (all P<0.05). Conclusions Apatinib combined with arterial embolism intervention is effective for liver cancer by resisting the formation of VEGF and up-regulating the expressions of P53 and Caspase-8. Key words: Liver cancer; Arterial embolism intervention; Apatinib; Vascular endothelial growth factor; Apoptosis related factors