Expression of macrophage migration inhibitory factor and its relationship with serum vascular endothelial growth factor and clinicopathological features in primary hepatocellular carcinoma

Abstract

Objective To investigate the relationship between serum levels of macrophage migration inhibitory factor(MIF) and vascular endothelial growth factor(VEGF) and clinicopathological features in primary hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Methods The serum concentrations of MIF and VEGF were detected by ELISA in 79 HCC patients, 35 chronic hepatitis patients with HBsAg positive and 50 healthy controls. Results The serum concentrations of MIF were 48.1(19.0-120.2) μg/L, 22.0(10.1-52.1) μg/L and 19.3(9.0-41.6) μg/L in the HCC patients, hepatitis patients and normal controls, respectively. The serum concentrations of VEGF were 1 071.8 (296.8-6 721.9) ng/L, 642.5 ( 123.0-853.5 ) ng/L and 644.1 (105.2-838.1) ng/L for VEGF in these three groups respectively. The serum level of MIF was significantly higher in HCC than in chronic hepatitis patients with HBsAg positive and healthy controls (Z=3.23, 3.01 ,P<0.01 ,respectively). The serum level of VEGF was higher in HCC than in those with HBsAg positive and healthy controls (Z=2.29, 2.25, P<0.05, respectively ). The serum concentration of MIF in HCC was related to the stage, tumor size, metastasis status and tissue differentiation( r=0.403, 0.390,0.405,0. 381, P<0.01 ), and VEGF in HCC was related to the stage and metastasis status (r=0.400, 0.610, P<0.01,respectively). The level of MIF was positively correlated with that of VEGF (r=0.412, P<0.01). Condusions The serum level of MIF is correlated with the levels of VEGF in HCC patients. The results indicate that MIF and VEGF might be related to the growth and metastasis of HCC. Key words: Carcinoma; hepatocellular; Liver neoplasms; Macrophage migration inhibitory factor; Vascular endothelial growth factor