Clinical significance of serum vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 levels in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma

World J Gastroenterol. 2004 Jul 15;10(14):2014-8. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v10.i14.2014.

Abstract

Aim: To evaluate the correlation between serum vascular cellular adhesion molecule-1 (VCAM-1) levels and clinicopathological features in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).

Methods: Ninety-six patients who underwent HCC resection were recruited in the study. Preoperative serum levels of soluble VCAM-1 were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.

Results: Serum VCAM-1 level in HCC patients was inversely correlated with platelet count (r=-0.431, P<0.001) and serum albumin level (r=-0.279, P<0.001), and positively correlated with serum bilirubin level (r=0.379, P<0.001). Serum VCAM-1 level was not associated with tumor characteristics such as tumor size, venous invasion, presence of microsatellite nodules, tumor grade and tumor stage. Serum VCAM-1 level was significantly higher in HCC patients with cirrhosis compared with those without cirrhosis (median 704 vs 546 ng/mL, P<0.001). Furthermore, a significantly better disease-free survival was observed in HCC patients with low VCAM-1 level (P=0.019).

Conclusion: Serum VCAM-1 level appears to reflect the severity of underlying chronic liver disease rather than the tumor status in HCC patients, and low preoperative serum VCAM-1 level is predictive of better disease-free survival after surgery.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / blood
  • Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / complications
  • Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / pathology*
  • Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / physiopathology*
  • Case-Control Studies
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Liver Cirrhosis / blood
  • Liver Cirrhosis / complications
  • Liver Cirrhosis / pathology
  • Liver Cirrhosis / physiopathology
  • Liver Neoplasms / blood
  • Liver Neoplasms / complications
  • Liver Neoplasms / pathology*
  • Liver Neoplasms / physiopathology*
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Prognosis
  • Survival Analysis
  • Vascular Cell Adhesion Molecule-1 / blood*

Substances

  • Vascular Cell Adhesion Molecule-1