THE STUDY OF ANGIOGENETIC FACTOR GENE EXPRESSION IN HEPATOCELLULAR CARCINOMA

1996 Fiscal Year Final Research Report Summary

• Project/Area Number: 07670559
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Single-year Grants
• Section: 一般
• Research Field: Gastroenterology
• Research Institution: YAMAGATA UNIVERSITY
• Principal Investigator: YAMADA Nobuo YAMAGATA UNIVERSITY THE SECOND DEPARTMENT OF INTERNAL MEDICINE INSTRUCTOR, 医学部, 助手 (80210467)
• Project Period (FY): 1995 – 1996
• Keywords: HEPATOCELLULAR CARCINOMA / ANGIOGENETIC FACTOR

Research Abstract

Northern blot analysis and reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) were used to examine the transcriptional expression of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF), and angiogenin in 18 hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Correlations between messenger RNA (mRNA) expression and arteriographic findings, as well ashistopathological findings, were studied. Immunohistochemistry was performed to identify the localization of cells expressing VEGF,bFGF,and angiogenin in HCC.Higher levels of VEGF,bFGF,and angiogenin mRNA were observed in 10 cases, 7 cases, 3 cases than in corresponding nontumorous tissues, respectively. The degree of these angiogenetic factor mRNA expression were correlated with the intensity of tumor staining in angiograms, the tumor size, and the histological grade of malignancy. On immunohistochemical obsevation, VEGF and bFGF protein were intensely detected in HCC cells. In contrast, no difference was observed in angiogenin protein. In conclusion, these results suggest that VEGF and bFGF contribute to angiogenesis and tumor growth of HCC.