Serum vascular endothelial growth factor is a candidate biomarker of metastatic tumor response to ex vivo gene therapy of renal cell cancer.
We report the close correlation between changes in serum immunoreactive vascular endothelial growth factor 165 (iVEGF165) levels and metastatic tumor burden measured by computed tomography scan before treatment, during the antitumor response, and during early progression in a patient treated with ex vivo gene therapy for renal cell carcinoma. With the researcher blinded to outcome, iVEGF levels were measured in archived serum samples from a patient with metastatic renal cell carcinoma who demonstrated a 7-month partial remission to treatment with autologous, irradiated human GM-CSF gene transduced tumor vaccine. Although a spontaneous regression could not be formally excluded in this patient, the appearance of 20 new pulmonary metastases on computed tomography scan after nephrectomy and before vaccination indicates that if spontaneous regression occurred, it took place at the start of vaccine treatment.
Baccala
A A
AA
Johns Hopkins Oncology Center and Brady Urological Institute, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland 21208, USA.
Zhong
H
H
Clift
S M
SM
Nelson
W G
WG
Marshall
F F
FF
Passe
T J
TJ
Gambill
N B
NB
Simons
J W
JW
D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000097:blood*; D002292:Carcinoma, Renal Cell / Q000097:blood* / Q000556:secondary / Q000628:therapy*; D016228:Endothelial Growth Factors / Q000097:blood*; D015316:Genetic Therapy; D006801:Humans; D007680:Kidney Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology*; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000097:blood* / Q000556:secondary / Q000628:therapy*; D008222:Lymphokines / Q000097:blood*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; D042442:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factors
D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D016228:Endothelial Growth Factors; D008222:Lymphokines; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; D042442:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factors