Expression And Significance Of Golgi Protein 73, Alpha-fetoprotein And Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor In Primary Hepatic Cancer

AIM:To investigate the expression of Golgi protein-73(GP73), Alpha fetoprotein(AFP) and Vascular endothelial growth factor(VEGF) in primary hepatic cancer(PHC),tumor-adjacent specimens and normal live specimens and analyze their clinical significance.METHODS:Forty-five PHC and tumor-adjacent specimens and 14 normal live specimens were included in the study. The expression of GP73,AFP and VEGF in these specimens was detected by immunohistochemistry. The correlation of the expression of these proteins with clinical pathology parameters in PHC was analyzed.RESULTS:The positive expression level of GP73, AFP and VEGF in carcinoma tissue more than the adjacent nontumorous liver tissue(0.143±0.018vs0.124±0.027,0.116±0.026vs0.098±0.014,and0.126±0.027vs0.092±0.016;all P<0.05), the latter also higher than the normal liver tissue(0.124±0.027vs0.088±0.029,0.098±0.014vs 0.073±0.01,and 0.092±0.016vs0.076±0.018;all P< 0.05). GP73 expression positive correlation with pathology grade and complicating cirrhosis, have no significant correlation with tumor size, number of nodules, clinical stage and serum AFP level. VEGF expression positive correlation with tumor size, number of nodules, complicating portal vein tumor thrombus and clinical stage, have no significant correlation with the degree of tumor cell differentiation and serum AFP level.GP73 and VEGF positive expression level higher than the level of AFP in carcinoma tissue(both P<0.05). GP73 and VEGF were positively correlated in this experiment (R2=0.066, P<0.05)CONCLUSION:1,GP73 highly expressed in primary liver cancer tissue, positively correlated with VEGF,they enzyme regulation may be the same protease to participate in the malignant cell protecting from apoptosis and stimulate angiogenesis. 2,Increased expression of VEGF in the PHC, a positive correlation with the TNM staging, involved in tumor growth and metastasis invasion.3,AFP expression level in cancer tissues higher than in the tumor-adjacent specimens, may be related to the tumour cell have a strong capabilities of cell proliferation and abnormal proliferation. 4,GP73 can be used as a diagnostic marker for primary hepatic cancer. Combined detection of GP73,AFP and VEGF is helpful for diagnosis of PHC.