Objective:
To study the significance of expression of VEGF in the hepatocellular carcinoma tissue(HCT) and the expression of AFPmRNA in the peripheral vein blood in hepatocellular carcinoma patients(HCC) with metastasis. Methods: AFPmRNA was detected in peripheral blood before operation and the expression of VEGF in HCC tissue was analyzed by immunohistochemistry after operation in 20 patients. The relations between the expression of VEGF protein and AFPmRNA with clinicpathological parameters were analyzed statistically. Results:（1）Among the 20 patients with HCC, 10 were positive expression of VEGF protein, which had no relation with the clinicopathological parameters. （2）Of the 20 patients, positive expression of AFPmRNA were detected in the peripheral blood in 15 patients, and AFP≥200μg/L were found in 13 patients.（3） AFPmRNA in the peripheral blood vein was detected in 9 of 10 patients with VEGF positive expression. Conclusions:（1）Either VEGF protein expressed in HCC tissue or AFPmRNA detected in the peripheral blood could be as a guide line to judge the tendency of the metastasis of HCC,however former is simpler and the later is more sensitive. （2）The detection of AFPmRNA in the peripheral blood is more sensitive than the detection of serum AFP lever for surveillance of the high risk patients and postoperative follow up of the patients with HCC.