Abstract: Objective To explore the relationship between expression of vascular endothelial growth factor(VEGF) and recurrence of hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC).Methods 71 cases of patients with HCC were grouped into VEGF-positive expression(VP) and VEGF-negative expression(VN).Parameters from the two groups such as classification of cancer cells,tumor capsule,vein tumor thrombus,recurrence rate in 1 year and recurrence rate between 1 and 3 years were compared.Results There were no significant differences between the two groups at classification of cancer cells and recurrence rate between 1 and 3 years(P>0.05).The rate of vein tumor thrombus and recurrence rate in 1 year were higher in group VP than that in group VN(P<0.05).The rate of tumor capsule was lower in group VP than that in group VN(P<0.05).Conclusions Expression of VEGF is correlated with early recurrence of HCC,possibly through the role of micro-metastasis by cancer cells.Expression of VEGF is not significantly correlated with the late recurrence of HCC.

Key words: Vascular endothelial growth factor, Hepatocellular carcinoma, Recurrence