{
  "abstract": "Background\n\nHepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) recurs frequently after resection. Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) mediates tumor angiogenesis, but its post-operative behavior is poorly described. We compared serum VEGF and alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) trajectories over the first post-operative year.Methodology\n\nIn this single-center prospective pilot study, 21 patients undergoing curative resection were assessed and 19 analyzed (8 recurrence, 11 non-recurrence). Both markers were measured before surgery and at 3, 6 and 12 months. Trajectories were compared using mixed-effects models with a group × time interaction (time categorical) and a random intercept; VEGF was modeled on the native scale, AFP on the log₁₀ scale. All analyses are exploratory.Results\n\nEight of 19 patients (42.1%) recurred, at a median of 177.5 days. VEGF trajectories differed between groups (interaction p = 0.041). In the recurrence group, estimated mean VEGF fell from 188.4 to 82.5 pg/mL by 3 months, rose to 103.9 at 6 months and fell to 67.9 at 12 months. Reductions from baseline were significant in the recurrence group only (all p ≤ 0.003). The 6-month rise was not itself significant (+21.2 pg/mL; p = 0.552). Observed VEGF never differed between groups; AFP was higher in the recurrence group at 12 months (15.61 versus 2.04 IU/mL; p = 0.016).Conclusion\n\nSerum VEGF declines markedly after resection, most steeply in patients who recur, and the groups follow different trajectories. The transient six-month rise coincided with the median time to recurrence but was not significant. Given the small, stage-imbalanced cohort, these findings are hypothesis-generating.",
  "abstract_shown": true,
  "affiliations": [
    "Division of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai, Thailand.",
    "Department of Biomedical Informatics and Clinical Epidemiology (BioCE), Faculty of Medicine, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai, Thailand.",
    "Thailand Excellence Center for Tissue Engineering and Stem Cell, Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai, Thailand."
  ],
  "article_type": "research article",
  "arxiv": null,
  "author_total": 8,
  "authors": [
    {
      "affs": [
        0
      ],
      "name": "Jirachaya Choovuthayakorn"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        1
      ],
      "name": "Phichayut Phinyo"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        1
      ],
      "name": "Noraworn Jirattikanwong"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        2
      ],
      "name": "Peraphan Pothacharoen"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        0
      ],
      "name": "Kanya Udomsin"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        0
      ],
      "name": "Anon Chotirosniramit"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        0
      ],
      "name": "Worakitti Lapisatepun"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        0
      ],
      "name": "Sunhawit Junrungsee"
    }
  ],
  "bibtex": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/4ymbztfw70p87.bib",
  "cited_by": 0,
  "doi": "10.3389/fonc.2026.1865004",
  "fulltext_url": "https://europepmc.org/articles/PMC13677535",
  "id": "4ymbztfw70p87",
  "issns": [
    "2234-943X"
  ],
  "landing_url": "https://europepmc.org/article/MED/42898247",
  "language": "eng",
  "licence": "CC-BY",
  "licence_label": "CC BY",
  "licence_source": "article",
  "licence_url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/",
  "metadata_licence": null,
  "native_subjects": [
    [
      "openalex",
      "2721|Hepatocellular Carcinoma Treatment and Prognosis"
    ]
  ],
  "openalex": "W7219618466",
  "pdf_url": "https://europepmc.org/articles/PMC13677535?pdf=render",
  "pmcid": "PMC13677535",
  "pmid": "42898247",
  "published": "2026-10-05",
  "publisher": "Frontiers Media SA",
  "ris": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/4ymbztfw70p87.ris",
  "sources": [
    {
      "first_seen": "2026-10-30T12:19:37Z",
      "native_id": "MED:42898247",
      "source": "europepmc",
      "url": "https://europepmc.org/article/MED/42898247"
    },
    {
      "first_seen": "2026-10-30T12:20:13Z",
      "native_id": "10.3389/fonc.2026.1865004",
      "source": "crossref",
      "url": "https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fonc.2026.1865004/full"
    }
  ],
  "subjects": [
    {
      "field": "medicine",
      "origin": "issn:2234-943X",
      "subfield": "oncology"
    }
  ],
  "title": "Dynamic changes of serum vascular endothelial growth factor after surgical resection of hepatocellular carcinoma and its application in recurrence monitoring.",
  "title_text": "Dynamic changes of serum vascular endothelial growth factor after surgical resection of hepatocellular carcinoma and its application in recurrence monitoring.",
  "type": "peer-reviewed",
  "updated_at": "2026-10-30T12:20:13Z",
  "url": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/4ymbztfw70p87",
  "venue": "Frontiers in oncology",
  "versions": []
}