Sublethal Irradiation Induces Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor and Promotes Growth of Hepatoma Cells: Implications for Radiotherapy of Hepatocellular Carcinoma

Abstract

Radiotherapy to eradicate a primary hepatocellular carcinoma might result in the outgrowth of previously dormant microtumors not included in the radiotherapy treatment field. Radiotherapy-induced VEGF could be a paracrine proliferative stimulus. Therapeutic implications of the study justify the combination of three-dimensional conformal radiotherapy with anti-VEGF angiogenic modalities for the treatment of unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma to reduce relapses.