Objective  To investigate the relationship between the expression of hepatomaderived growth factor (HDGF) or vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and angiogenesis of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and its significance.   Methods  The expressions of HDGF and VEGF in 108 specimens of HCC and in their adjacent liver tissues were detected with EnVision

TM

immunohistochemistry. Tumor microvessel density (MVD) was evaluated using CD34 antibody as an endothelial marker with the same technique as well.   Results  Positive rates of HDGF (63.2%) and VEGF expressions (69.1%) were s

ignificantly higher in HCC tissues than those in the adjacent liver tissues (16.7% and 20.3% respectively). Positive rates of HDGF and VEGF expressions in the HCC tissues were positively correlated (P0.05). The mean value of MVD was significantly higher in HCC tissues than in the adjacent liver tissues. Both HDGF and VEGF expressions were positively correlated with MVD value (r=0.728

P0.01

r=0.608

P0.05).   Conclusion  Overexpression of HDGF and VEGF are involved in the angiogenesis of HCC

and may be regarded as markers for invasion

angiogenesis

metastasis and prognosis of hepatocellular carcinoma.