Increasing evidence suggests that levels of
angiogenic proteins within blood platelets change at the earliest stages of
cancer development and may thus provide a promising diagnostic and prognostic tool. Patients with
cirrhosis have increased risk of developing
hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). We aimed to study whether development of HCC in
hepatitis-related
cirrhosis results in changes in platelet levels of
angiogenic proteins. We studied the intraplatelet levels of
vascular endothelial growth factor (
VEGF),
basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF),
platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF),
hepatocyte growth factor (HGF),
endostatin,
platelet factor 4 (PF4) and
thrombospondin type 1 (TSP-1) in 38 consecutive patients with
hepatitis B- or C-related
liver cirrhosis with or without HCC in addition to plasma levels of the same
proteins. Twenty healthy volunteers were included to establish reference values for the various tests. Intraplatelet levels of
VEGF, bFGF, HGF and
endostatin were significantly higher in patients compared to controls. Intraplatelet levels of PDGF, PF4 and
TSP-1 were comparable between patients and controls. Plasma levels of
VEGF, bFGF and
endostatin were comparable between patients and controls. Plasma levels of PDGF, PF4 and
TSP-1 were decreased in patients, but this difference disappeared when levels were corrected for platelet count. Intraplatelet and plasma levels of all
proteins assessed were comparable between patients with and without HCC. In conclusion, the intraplatelet levels of some
angiogenic proteins are elevated in
cirrhosis, but do not discriminate between patients with and without HCC. Thus, intraplatelet levels of
angiogenic proteins do not seem useful as diagnostic or prognostic
biomarker of HCC in cirrhotic patients.