Chinese Hepatolgy ›› 2021, Vol. 26 ›› Issue (6): 628-631.

• Liver Cancer • Previous Articles     Next Articles

Effect of apatinib on angiogenic factors of patients with advanced unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma after transarterial chemoembolization

ZHAO Kai, XUE Jin-feng, XUE Peng-fei, CHANG Peng   

  1. Department of Interventional Therapy, Yuncheng Central Hospital, Shanxi 044000, China
  • Received:2021-02-20 Online:2021-06-30 Published:2021-07-19
  • Contact: CHANG Peng

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Abstract: Objective To observe the effect of apatinib on the levels of angiogenic factors in patients with advanced unresectable liver cancer after transcarterial chemoembolization (TACE).Methods Seventy-eight patients with advanced liver cancer in our hospital from March 2018 to March 2020 were selected as the research objects and randomly divided into combination group (39 cases) and TACE group (39 cases). The TACE group was treated with TACE, and the combination group was treated with apatinib and TACE. The clinical effects of the 2 groups were compared, and the levels of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), alpha fetoprotein (AFP) and caspase-8 were compared before and after treatment.Results After treatment, compared with TACE group (43.59%), the total effective rate of combination group (66.67%) was significantly higher (P<0.05). The levels of VEGF before treatment were (229.36 ± 23.85) pg/mL and (228.61 ± 24.16) pg/mL in 2 groups, respectively, with no significant difference (P>0.05). Eight weeks after treatment, the VEGF levels were (135.16 ± 12.82) pg/mL and (162.17 ± 15.25) pg/mL, respectively, which were significantly lower than those before treatment, and the level in combination group was lower (P<0.05). The levels of AFP before treatment were (462.79 ± 22.16) ng/mL and (468.25 ± 22.81) ng/mL in 2 groups, respectively, with no significant difference (P>0.05). Eight weeks after treatment, the levels of AFP were (84.16 ± 12.47) ng/mL and (139.62 ± 13.85) ng/mL, respectively, which were significantly lower than those before treatment, and the level in combined group were lower (P<0.05). The levels of caspase-8 before treatment were (81.37 ± 11.28) pg/mL and (82.15 ± 11.67) pg/mL in 2 groups, respectively, with no significant difference (P>0.05). Eight weeks after treatment, caspase-8 levels were (104.92 ± 13.46) pg/mL and (95.74 ± 12.84) pg/mL, respectively, which were significantly higher than those before treatment, and the level in combination group was higher (P<0.05).Conclusion Apatinib has a good effect on patients with unresectable advanced liver cancer after TACE. It can improve the levels of VEGF, AFP, and caspace-8, which is worthy promoting.

Key words: Apatinib, Transcatheter arterial chemoembolization, Liver cancer, Vascular endothelial growth factor, Alpha fetoprotein, Caspase-8