Influence on genetic and biochemical variants for vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) on hepatocellular Carcinoma

Abstract

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the most aggressive form of liver cancer. Risk factors for HCC include hepatitis B and C, alcoholic cirrhosis, prolonged exposure to aflatoxin, inherited metabolic diseases, addition to genetic changes that can affect many cellular pathways. This context highlights the vascular endothelial growth factor, which has been associated to the carcinogenic process, acting as a vascular permeability factor. Objectives: evaluate the influence of polymorphism VEGF-C936T on HCC; evaluate the relationship between VEGF blood levels and its genetic variants in patients with HCC, cirrhosis, or hepatitis by C virus (HCV); analyze the odds ratio for HCC, relating to the clinical, genetical and biochemical factors. Casuistics and methods: will be selected 320 individuals, regardless of sex, ethnic group, and age, distributed into four groups. Group 1: 40 individuals with a diagnosis of HCC; Group 2: 80 individuals with a diagnosis of cirrhosis by any etiology; Group 3: 100 individuals with a diagnosis of HCV; Group 4: 100 control individuals, without clinical and biochemical signs of HCC. Variants for VEGF will be analyzed by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) with the restriction enzyme NlaIII (Fermentas). Biochemical measurements will be realized by Enzyme Immunoassay (EIA) and ELISA. Statistical analysis includes Fisher exact's test, Student's t-test, and multivariate regression with significant leve P < 0,05.(AU)