Abstract: Objective To investigate the effect of apatinib combined with transcatheter arterial chemoembolization (TACE) on serum vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF)/tumor specific growth factors (TSGF) levels in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Methods A total of 120 patients with HCC admitted to our hospital from August 2018 to August 2020 were selected, and randomly divided into 2 groups on average. The control group was treated with TACE, and the observation group was treated with apatinib combined with TACE. The treatment efficacy of the 2 groups were analyzed, and the levels of VEGF/TSGF, alpha fetoprotein (AFP), matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) and the distribution of T lymphocyte subsets CD3⁺, CD4⁺/CD8⁺ were compared before and after treatment. Results The effective rates of the observation group and the control group were 60.00% and 36.67%, respectively, and the difference was statistically significant (P<0.05). In observation group, the level of VEGF/TSGF at 6 days after treatment (411.20±50.21) was significantly lower than that before treatment (500.25±50.23, P<0.05). Three months after treatment, the level of VEGF/TSGF (324.64±51.12) was significantly lower than that before treatment and 6 days after treatment (500.25±50.23, 411.20±50.21, P<0.05). The level of VEGF/TSGF in control group (454.27±49.58) at 6 days after treatment was significantly lower than that before treatment (512.25±55.92, P<0.05), and 3 months after treatment, the level of VEGF/TSGF (532.48±56.48) was significantly higher than that at 6 days after treatment (454.27±49.58, P<0.05). The levels of VEGF/TSGF at 6 days and 3 months after treatment in observation group (411.20±50.21, 324.64±51.12) were significantly lower than those in control group (454.27±49.58, 532.48±56.48, P<0.05). After treatment, the levels of MMP-9 and AFP in the 2 groups were significantly lower than those before treatment (P<0.05), whereas CD3⁺ and CD4⁺/CD8⁺ were significantly higher than those before treatment (P<0.05). After treatment, the levels of MMP-9 [(968.76±201.48) ng/L] and AFP [(489.47±32.49) μg/L] in observation group were significantly lower than those in control group [(1632.49±245.86)ng/L, (743.58±49.58)μg/L, P<0.05], whereas CD3⁺ [(61.58±9.36)%], CD4⁺/CD8⁺ (1.09±0.12) were significantly higher than those in control group [(54.24±8.59)%, 1.34±0.19, P<0.05]. Conclusion Apatinib combined with TACE in the treatment for patients with HCC can effectively regulate the serum VEGF/TSGF levels and inhibit tumor angiogenesis.

Key words: Hepatocellular carcinoma, Transcatheter arterial chemoembolization, Apatinib, Vascular endothelial growth factor, Tumor specific growth factor