Abstract:

Objective    To explore expression of VEGF(vascular endothelial growth factor), HGF(hepatocyte growth factor) and C-Met, the receptor of HGF, in low- and high-grade astrocytoma and their correlations with angiogenesis, pathological differentiation and prognosis. Methods    Protein expression of HGF, C-Met and VEGF was examined with the immunohistochemical staining Method (S-P). mRNA expression of HGF, C-Met and VEGF was examined with RT-PCR. Results    Expression rates of HGF, CMet and VEGF in 98 astrocyte tumors were 98.81%, 97.82% and 100%, respectively, and the degree of expression was in accordance with malignancy of the tumors. The MVD of astrocyte tumors was positively correlated with the malignancy. Such correlations existed among HGF, C-Met and VEGF. Conclusion    Up-regulated expression of HGF, C-Met and VEGF are inseparably and closely related to malignancy and angiogenesis of the tumor, and expression of protein and mRNA can act as an indicator of the prognosis for the patients with astrocyte tumors.

Key words: Astrocytoma; Hepatocyte growth factor; Vascular endothelial growth factor; Neovascularization; Pathologic