In the present study serum vascular endothelial growth factor ( VEGF) and alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) and MAGE -1 m- RNA determination in blood by RT- PCR were
assayed in seventy five individuals classified into five groups: control group (group I)
which comprised fifteen apparently healthy volunteers, group II which involved
fifteen HCV infected patients without cirrhosis, group III involved fifteen HCV
infected patients with cirrhosis, group IV included fifteen HCV infected patients with
cirrhosis and early stage HCC and group V included fifteen HCV cirrhotic patients
and late stage HCC. The results revealed that the frequency of positivity of MAGE-1
among the late hepatoma patients in group V was 60%, while in the early hepatoma
patients in group IV the positivity was 13.3%. The results for VEGF revealed a
significant increase of serum VEGF in group V compared to control, II& III groups
and in group IV compared to group III. The obtained results of AFP, showed a
significant positive increase of serum AFP in group V when compared with group II
and III and in group IV when compared with group II and III. In conclusion,
detection of MAGE-1 transcripts in blood, especially with follow up survey, may help
to predict the prognosis and monitoring of the response to the therapy, and the serum
VEGF level in HCC patients is directly correlated with the metastasis and recurrence
of tumors and increases gradually with the progression of HCC.