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Meta-Analysis
. 2015 Oct 18:21:3144-51.
doi: 10.12659/msm.894617.

Prognostic Value of VEGF in Hepatocellular Carcinoma Patients Treated with Sorafenib: A Meta-Analysis

Guangchao Cao  1 , Xiaoyun Li  2 , Chao Qin  3 , Jie Li  4
Affiliations
Meta-Analysis

Prognostic Value of VEGF in Hepatocellular Carcinoma Patients Treated with Sorafenib: A Meta-Analysis

Guangchao Cao et al. Med Sci Monit. .

Abstract

Background: Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is characterized by rich vascularization in the tumor, and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) plays important roles in vascularization. The results of the roles of VEGF in predicting efficacy of sorafenib in HCC are conflicting. In this meta-analysis, we aimed to investigate the prognostic and predictive value of VEGF in HCC patients receiving sorafenib.

Material and methods: PubMed, Embase, and Cochrane library electronic databases were systematically searched for eligible studies. The baseline characteristics were recorded and overall qualities of the eligible studies were assessed by 2 reviewers independently. VEGF levels and data relevant to efficacy of sorafenib were extracted and used for meta-analysis.

Results: The comprehensive search yielded 9 studies that evaluated the relationship between VEGF level and clinical outcome in advanced HCC patients treated with sorafenib. Pooled estimates suggested that high level of VEGF was associated with poor overall survival (HR=1.85; 95% CI: 1.24-2.77; P=0.003) and poor progression-free survival (HR=2.09; 95% CI: 1.43-3.05; P<0.01) in HCC. Mutation of VEGF had a favorable effect on hand-foot skin reaction in HCC patients treated with sorafenib (P<0.05).

Conclusions: High level of VEGF is associated with poor outcomes in HCC patients treated with sorafenib, indicating that VEGF could be used as an indicator of clinical efficacy in patients with HCC. However, more well-designed studies are needed to strengthen our findings.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Flow chart of the selection of eligible studies.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Levels of VEGF for predicting whether overall survival could be improved by treatment of sorafenib in HCC.
Figure 3
Figure 3
Levels of VEGF for predicting whether progression free survival could be prolonged by administration of sorafenib in HCC.
Figure 4
Figure 4
Response of VEGFR2 after administration of sorafenib for predicting progression free survival in HCC.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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