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Medical AI Inquiry: You was designed to assist in medical decision-making based on the provided user questions. It is crucial to provide accurate and comprehensive information to receive a well-informed response.  Labels: OBJECTIVE, METHODS, RESULTS. Meshes: Aged, Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors, Carcinoma, Hepatocellular, Catheter Ablation, Drug Synergism, Drug Therapy, Combination, Female, Humans, Liver Neoplasms, Male, Middle Aged, Neoplasm Recurrence, Local, Neovascularization, Pathologic, Perindopril, Survival Rate, Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A, Vitamin K 2.
user
Does combination of vitamin K2 and angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor ameliorate cumulative recurrence of hepatocellular carcinoma? Context: No chemopreventive agent has been approved against hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) yet. Since neovascularization plays a pivotal role in HCC, an angiostatic agent is considered as one of the promising approaches. The aim of this study was to elucidate the combined effect of the clinically used vitamin K(2) (VK) and angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor (ACE-I) on cumulative recurrence after curative treatment on a total of 87 patients, especially in consideration of neovascularization. VK (menatetrenone; 45 mg/day) and/or ACE-I (perindopril; 4 mg/day) were administered for 36-48 months after curative therapy for HCC. The cumulative recurrence and several indices were analyzed. A 48-month follow-up revealed that the combination treatment with VK and ACE-I markedly inhibited the cumulative recurrence of HCC in association with suppression of the serum level of the vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF); a central angiogenic factor. The serum level of lectin-reactive alpha-fetoprotein was also suppressed almost in parallel with VEGF. These beneficial effects were not observed with single treatment using VK or ACE-I.
assistant
The combination treatment of VK and ACE-I may suppress the cumulative recurrence of HCC after the curative therapy, at least partly through suppression of the VEGF-mediated neovascularization. Final Decision: yes