title: Elevated plasma platelet-derived growth factor B-chain levels in cancer patients.
abstract: Platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF) is produced by a variety of normal and tumor cells in vitro. We have developed an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay for the detection of the B-chain of PDGF. This assay can reliably detect 0.1 ng/ml of homodimeric recombinant PDGF B-chain and does not cross-react with recombinant PDGF-AA, epidermal growth factor, basic fibroblast growth factor, or transforming growth factor-beta. Citrated plasma from 72 control individuals had a PDGF B-chain (PDGF-B) level of 0.32 +/- 0.14 ng/ml (mean +/- SD) with a range of 0.10-0.69 ng/ml. The plasma platelet factor 4 (PF4) level was 97 +/- 70 ng/ml, with a range of 34-363 ng/ml. Citrated plasma was obtained from 131 cancer patients, and plasma PDGF-B was elevated in 19 (15%) of the patients. Both PDGF-B and PF4 were elevated in 14 (11%) of these patients, consistent with a platelet source of PDGF-B. In 5 patients (4%), however, PDGF-B was elevated and PF4 was not elevated compared to the control group. This last group of patients may have a tumor-derived source of PDGF-B which could be important in autocrine or paracrine growth stimulation of the tumor cells.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Pennsylvania State University College of Medicine, Milton S. Hershey Medical Center, Hershey 17033.
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Leitzel
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Bryce
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Tomita
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Manderino
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Tribby
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Thomason
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Billingsley
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Podczaski
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Harvey
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bartholomew
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000097:blood*; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D046911:Macromolecular Substances; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000097:blood* / Q000473:pathology; D010982:Platelet-Derived Growth Factor / Q000032:analysis*; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000032:analysis; D012016:Reference Values
chemical_list: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D046911:Macromolecular Substances; D010982:Platelet-Derived Growth Factor; D011994:Recombinant Proteins