Dynamic changes of serum vascular endothelial growth factor after surgical resection of hepatocellular carcinoma and its application in recurrence monitoring.
- 1Division of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai, Thailand.
- 2Department of Biomedical Informatics and Clinical Epidemiology (BioCE), Faculty of Medicine, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai, Thailand.
- 3Thailand Excellence Center for Tissue Engineering and Stem Cell, Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai, Thailand.
Abstract
Background
Hepatocellular 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
In 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
Eight 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
Serum 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.
Related
- Peri-interventional neutrophil extracellular traps and immune surveillance in hepatocellular carcinoma: mechanisms, biomarkers, and recurrence after liver resection or thermal ablation
- Clinicopathological predictors and an internally validated exploratory nomogram for 2-year recurrence after hepatic resection of hepatocellular carcinoma ≤5 cm.
- All deaths follow recurrence, but not all recurrences are fatal: a retrospective cohort study of recurrence timing and survival after curative resection of hepatocellular carcinoma
- Interaction between microvascular invasion and early recurrence of hepatocellular carcinoma in cirrhosis patients with curative liver resection: a retrospective cohort study.
- Association between alpha-fetoprotein elevation and recurrence in patients who achieved normalized alpha-fetoprotein after curative resection for hepatocellular carcinoma : A retrospective cohort study
BibTeX
@article{choovuthayakorn2026dynamic,
title = {{Dynamic changes of serum vascular endothelial growth factor after surgical resection of hepatocellular carcinoma and its application in recurrence monitoring.}},
author = {Jirachaya Choovuthayakorn and Phichayut Phinyo and Noraworn Jirattikanwong and Peraphan Pothacharoen and Kanya Udomsin and Anon Chotirosniramit and Worakitti Lapisatepun and Sunhawit Junrungsee},
journal = {Frontiers in oncology},
year = {2026},
month = oct,
doi = {10.3389/fonc.2026.1865004},
url = {https://europepmc.org/article/MED/42898247},
note = {CC BY},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Dynamic changes of serum vascular endothelial growth factor after surgical resection of hepatocellular carcinoma and its application in recurrence monitoring.
AU - Jirachaya Choovuthayakorn
AU - Phichayut Phinyo
AU - Noraworn Jirattikanwong
AU - Peraphan Pothacharoen
AU - Kanya Udomsin
AU - Anon Chotirosniramit
AU - Worakitti Lapisatepun
AU - Sunhawit Junrungsee
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/10/05
JO - Frontiers in oncology
DO - 10.3389/fonc.2026.1865004
UR - https://europepmc.org/article/MED/42898247
AB - Background Hepatocellular 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 In 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 Eight 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 Serum 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.
SN - 2234-943X
ER -