Increased levels of vascular endothelial growth factor in bronchoalveolar lavage of patients with bronchial carcinoma effect of tumour activity and oxidative stress due to radio-chemotherapy?
BACKGROUND
Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) plays a crucial role in physiological and neoplastic angiogenesis. Moreover, VEGF has been found to be upregulated by conditions associated with the generation of free radicals and reactive oxygen intermediates. In patients with cancer, studies to evaluate VEGF as a measure of tumour activity were carried out. We tested the hypothesis that VEGF is additionally affected by oxidative stress due to anticancer therapy. Moreover, the suitability of epidermal growth factor (EGF) to estimate tumour activity was studied.


METHODS
60 patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) covering different therapy progress and modalities underwent bronchoalveolar lavage. VEGF-, EGF-, albumin- and total protein-concentrations in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) and VEGF-levels in blood plasma were studied.


RESULTS
BALF VEGF-levels were increased in patients with advanced NSCLC before and in anticancer therapy. In patients who had received radiotherapy to the lung prior to chemotherapy, VEGF concentrations were noticeably higher than under sole chemotherapy. Pulmonary endothelial hyperpermeability was found in patients with recently diagnosed tumours and patients undergoing anti-cancer therapy. Evaluation of EGF-levels in BALF revealed no significant influence of tumour activity or cancer therapy on this parameter.


CONCLUSIONS
BALF-levels of VEGF are affected by tumour activity and oxidative stress due to anticancer therapy.
Beinert
T
T
Universitäts-Klinikum Charité, Zentrum für Innere Medizin, Medizinische Klinik und Poliklinik II, Schumannstrasse 20-21, D-10117 Berlin, Germany. beinert@charite.de
Binder
D
D
Oehm
C
C
Ziemer
S
S
Priem
F
F
Schweigert
M
M
Stuschke
M
M
Fleischhacker
M
M
Siebert
G
G
Mergenthaler
H G
HG
Werner
T G
TG
Sezer
O
O
Possinger
K
K
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000418:Albumins / Q000032:analysis; D000470:Alkaloids / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001984:Bronchial Neoplasms / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000532:radiotherapy; D001992:Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid / Q000737:chemistry*; D002289:Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000532:radiotherapy; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D003841:Deoxycytidine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000494:pharmacology; D016228:Endothelial Growth Factors / Q000032:analysis*; D004815:Epidermal Growth Factor / Q000032:analysis; D005047:Etoposide / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008175:Lung Neoplasms; D008222:Lymphokines / Q000032:analysis*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins / Q000032:analysis*; D009389:Neovascularization, Pathologic / Q000378:metabolism; D018384:Oxidative Stress; D011506:Proteins / Q000032:analysis; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; D042442:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factors; D014751:Vindesine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology; D000093542:Gemcitabine
D000418:Albumins; D000470:Alkaloids; D016228:Endothelial Growth Factors; D008222:Lymphokines; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins; D011506:Proteins; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; D042442:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factors; D003841:Deoxycytidine; D004815:Epidermal Growth Factor; D005047:Etoposide; D014751:Vindesine; D000093542:Gemcitabine