Objectives: The aim of this study was to assess serum levels of endocan & VEGF in patients
with hepatitis C virus-related HCC and their diagnostic and predictive value of mortality.
Methods: A total of 195 patients with CHC were subdivided into the following two groups:
105 HCV cirrhotic patients with HCC and 90 HCV cirrhotic patients without HCC. Sixty
apparently healthy subjects served as the control group. The serum VEGF and endocan were
assessed by ELISA.
Results: The mean serum endocan level was 4257.6± 847.6 pg/mL in HCC patients, compared
to 2099.2± 459.6 pg/mL in liver cirrhosis patients without HCC. VEGF levels in the HCC group
were non-significantly higher than those of the non-HCC group, and control group. Endocan at
cut-off value 2967 pg/ml had higher sensitivity and higher specificity in diagnosis of HCC than
AFP and VEGF. The median follow up period was 9 months, survival curve analysis was done
in HCC group and showed that probability of survival among HCC group with higher levels of
VEGF and endocan were significantly lower than that patients with low levels. In HCC patients,
elevated serum endocan levels were significantly associated with poor hepatic functions and a
greater number and size of tumours. Multivariate analysis showed that serum endocan levels
(≥4000 pg/ml), as well as elevated serum fetoprotein (>100 ng/dl), were independent prognostic
biomarkers for mortality.
Conclusion: Endocan may be a useful diagnostic marker for HCC and a good predictor of
mortality, especially when combined with AFP and VEGF.