To study the clinical significiance of serum vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and insulin-like growth factor-Ⅱ (IGF-Ⅱ) assay in the diagnosis of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) . Serum VEGF and IGF-Ⅱ concentration was determined in 35 patients with HCC, 16 patients with (LC) , 16 patients with (CH) and 10 normal controls by means of enzyme linked immunosorbent assay system (ELISA) and radioimmunoassay (RIA) respectively. The level of serum VEGF and IGF-Ⅱ of HCC patients were significiance higher than those in normal controls, LC patients and CH patients (P<0.01 or P<0.05) , Serum VEGF level was elevated in 22 of 35 (62.8%) HCC patients. The diagnostic positivity was 63.6% in AFP negative HCC patients. Serum IGF-Ⅱ level was elevated in 21 of 35 (60%) HCC patients. The diagnostic positivity was 54.5% in AFP negative HCC patients. The total positive detection rate of HCC with combined VEGF, IGF-Ⅱ and AFP reached 94.3%. The level of serum VEGF in HCC patients with metastasis was significiantly higher than those without metastasis (P<0.01) . Above results suggest that serum VEGF and IGF-Ⅱ might be a candidate for a tumor marker for diagnosis of HCC, especially HCC patients with AFP negative. It is helpful in diagnosing HCC earlier and can differentiate HCC from liver cirrhosis. Serum VEGF level of HCC appears to reflect its potential activity of vascular invasion and metastasis.
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