Objective　To study the relationship between the expression of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and invasion, metastasis of primary hepatocellular carcinoma (PHCC). Methods　Paraffin-embedded specimens from 30 patients with PHCC undergoing radical resection were studied. Agiogenesis was assessed by the expression of VEGF and microvascular density (MVD) using LSAB immunohistochemical staining. Results　(1) The level of VEGF and MVD in　 PHCC was higher than that in the paratumorous tissue (P<0.05). (2) The level of VEGF expression and MVD in PHCC with tumor metastasis or in nonencapsulated tumors were higher than that in PHCC without metastasis or in well encapsulated tumors (P<0.05). 　(3) There was no significant differance in the expression of VEGF and MVD between large PHCC (diameter >5cm) and small ones (diameter ≤5cm). (4) The expression of VEGF was positively correlated with MVD (P<0.01).　　Conclusions　The expression of VEGF and MVD are highly correlated with invasion and metastasis in PHCC, may serve as a parameter for determining tumor metastasis and prognosis which may suggest a new idea to supervise and treat PHCC.

Objective To study the relationship between the expression of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and invasion, metastasis of primary hepatocellular carcinoma (PHCC). Methods Paraffin-embedded specimens from 30 patients with PHCC undergoing radical resection were studied. Agiogenesis was assessed by the expression of VEGF and microvascular density (MVD) using LSAB immunohistochemical staining. Results (1) The level of VEGF and MVD in PHCC was higher than that in the paratumorous tissue (P5*!cm) and small ones (diameter ≤5*!cm). (4) The expression of VEGF was positively correlated with MVD (P