Expressions of vascular endothelial growth factor in cirrhotic tissues and their relations to proto-oncogene c-fos, c-myc

Objective: To investigate the significance of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in the pathogene- sis of liver cirrhosis and the correlation between VEGF and proto-oncogene c-fos and c-myc in cir- rhotic liver. Methods: The proteins of VEGF, c-fos, and c-myc were identified immunohistochemically in each tissue section of 53 cases of liver cirrhosis. The correlations between VEGF, c-fos and c-myc were analyzed. The levels of VEGF protein in different Child gradings were also compared. Results: The proteins of VEGF were more highly ex- pressed in Child A and B patients than in Child C patients and controls. The expressions of both c-fos and c-myc were not statistically significant between VEGF positive and negative patients. Conclusions: The protein level of VEGF can reflect the compensation status of cirrhosis patients and may act as an anti-cirrhotic factor. The proto-oncogene c- fos, c-myc and VEGF may have different mecha- nisms in the course of cirrhosis or hepatic tumorigen- esis.