YU-YUN SHAOZHONG-ZHE LINChen T.-J.CHIUN HSUYing-Chun ShenCHIH-HUNG HSUANN-LII CHENG2020-04-102020-04-1020110030-2414https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-80053557082&doi=10.1159%2f000331684&partnerID=40&md5=9a669040400e1115a75fe7ff5729a6fahttps://scholars.lib.ntu.edu.tw/handle/123456789/484107Objectives: We examined whether circulating endothelial progenitor (CEP) and circulating endothelial cell (CEC) levels had associations with the survival of patients who received antiangiogenic therapy for advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Methods: Patients with advanced HCC were enrolled into a phase II trial evaluating a combination of sorafenib and metronomic chemotherapy with tegafur/uracil as first-line systemic therapy. CEPs and CECs were enumerated with six-color flow cytometry at baseline, 2 weeks, and 4 weeks after treatment and analyzed for their associations with treatment outcomes along with other clinicopathologic factors. Results: Forty patients were enrolled. Baseline CEP and CEC levels were not associated with tumor stages, α-fetoprotein levels, or macrovascular invasion. By univariate analysis, a high baseline CEP level was a significant predictor of poor progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) (p = 0.02 and p = 0.004, respectively). The high baseline CEP level remained an independent, significant predictor of poor PFS [hazard ratio (HR) 1.953, p = 0.049] and OS (HR 2.512, p = 0.004) in multivariate analysis. On the other hand, the baseline or posttreatment CEC levels were not associated with PFS or OS. Conclusion: High baseline CEP levels were associated with poor survival in patients with advanced HCC receiving sorafenib-based antiangiogenic combination therapy. Copyright ? 2011 S. Karger AG.[SDGs]SDG1[SDGs]SDG3alpha fetoprotein; sorafenib; UFT; antiangiogenic therapy; article; cancer invasion; cancer staging; cancer survival; clinical article; endothelial progenitor cell; female; flow cytometry; human; liver cell carcinoma; male; overall survival; phase 2 clinical trial; predictive value; priority journal; progression free survival; treatment duration; treatment outcome; Administration, Metronomic; Adult; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols; Benzenesulfonates; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular; Endothelial Cells; Female; Humans; Liver Neoplasms; Male; Middle Aged; Pyridines; Stem Cellsjournal article10.1159/000331684219863712-s2.0-80053557082