Peritoneal fluid contains high concentration of hepatocyte growth factor and vascular endothelial growth factor after resection for hepatocellular carcinoma

Background/Aims: Surges in blood growth factor levels is a typical response to surgical stress. However, growth factor profiles in peritoneal fluid after hepatectomy for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) have not been clarified. We evaluated hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) and vascular endothelial growth factor NEGF) in blood and peritoneal fluid preoperatively and postoperatively. Methodology: Serial blood and peritoneal fluid samples were collected from 47 patients who underwent curative hepatectomy for primary HCC at a university hospital. Blood samples were collected postoperative days 0, 1, 3, 5, and 7; peritoneal fluid was collected at the same time except day 0. VEGF and HGF concentrations were determined, and correlations between concentrations and clinical parameters of HCC were analyzed. Results: HGF surges appeared postoperatively in blood and peritoneal fluid; concentrations paralleled each other. There was no postoperative surge of VEGF in blood, but peritoneal fluid VEGF concentration was remarkably high after hepatectomy. Both HGF and VEGF levels in blood and peritoneal fluid correlated with some clinical parameters. The difference in HGF and VEGF patterns in blood and peritoneal fluid imply that the origins of these two growth factors differ. Conclusions: Post-hepatectomy, VEGF and HGF levels surged in peritoneal fluid, whereas only HGF surged in blood, suggesting independent origins for the two growth factors. Both VEGF and HGF concentrations correlated with some clinical parameters.