Prognostic value of the combination of serum levels of vascular endothelial growth factor, C-reactive protein and contrast-enhanced ultrasound in patients with primary liver cancer who underwent transcatheter arterial chemoembolization

ABSTRACT

Background: This study aimed to evaluate the prognostic value of the combination of serum levels of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), C-reactive protein (CRP), and contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) in patients with primary liver cancer (PLC) after transcatheter arterial chemoembolization (TACE).

Methods: Overall, 287 PLC patients who had undergone TACE were allocated into recurrence and non-recurrence groups. One day before and seven days after TACE, CEUS was performed, and serum VEGF and CRP levels were determined. All patients were assigned into either a short time-to-radiologic progression (TTRP) group (TTRP ≤ 12 months) or a long TTRP group (TTRP > 12 months).

Results: Serum VEGF and CRP levels were higher in the recurrence group than the non-recurrence group after TACE. The sensitivity and specificity of CEUS parameters, serum VEGF and CRP levels, and the three combined, were utilized for the purposes of predicting the postoperative recurrences of PLC, which were 80.9% and 87.8%, 81.7% and 71.5%, 67.0% and 69.8%, and 87.8% and 90.1%, respectively.

Conclusion: This study demonstrated that high serum levels of both VEGF and CRP in addition to a low time-to-peak (TTP) value in CEUS were indicators for poor prognosis in PLC patients.

KEYWORDS:

• Primary liver cancer
• transcatheter arterial chemoembolization
• vascular endothelial growth factor
• C-reactive protein
• contrast-enhanced ultrasound
• prognosis

Acknowledgments

We acknowledge and appreciate our colleagues for their valuable efforts and comments on this paper.

Declaration of interest

The authors have no relevant affiliations or financial involvement with any organization or entity with a financial interest in or financial conflict with the subject matter or materials discussed in the manuscript. This includes employment, consultancies, honoraria, stock ownership or options, expert testimony, grants or patents received or pending, or royalties.

Additional information

Funding

This manuscript has not received any funding.

Notes on contributors

Zhi-Dong Xuan

LZ designed the study. ZDX collated the data, designed and developed the database, carried out data analyses. YW produced the initial draft of the manuscript. XZ contributed to drafting the manuscript. All authors have read and approved the final version and agree to be accountable for all aspects of the work.

Li Zhou

LZ designed the study. ZDX collated the data, designed and developed the database, carried out data analyses. YW produced the initial draft of the manuscript. XZ contributed to drafting the manuscript. All authors have read and approved the final version and agree to be accountable for all aspects of the work.

Yu Wang

LZ designed the study. ZDX collated the data, designed and developed the database, carried out data analyses. YW produced the initial draft of the manuscript. XZ contributed to drafting the manuscript. All authors have read and approved the final version and agree to be accountable for all aspects of the work.

Xue Zheng

LZ designed the study. ZDX collated the data, designed and developed the database, carried out data analyses. YW produced the initial draft of the manuscript. XZ contributed to drafting the manuscript. All authors have read and approved the final version and agree to be accountable for all aspects of the work.