Major surgery increases serum levels of vascular endothelial growth factor only temporarily.
BACKGROUND
Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) is a hypoxia-induced endothelial cell-specific mitogen, which is angiogenic in vivo and up-regulated in several malignancies. VEGF can be used as a prognostic marker, but the effect of surgical trauma on serum VEGF (S-VEGF) concentrations is unknown and might reduce the value of VEGF as a serum marker.


METHODS
We monitored S-VEGF levels by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay in patients undergoing surgery.


RESULTS
Eighteen patients with major surgery had slightly elevated S-VEGF compared with the preoperative level (median 9.5 pg/mL) on the first (median 35 pg/mL; P = 0.0002) and third (median 19 pg/mL; P = 0.004) postoperative day, but not in later samples. The levels measured in 8 patients after minor surgery did not differ from the preoperative levels (P = 0.14).


CONCLUSIONS
Even major surgery is associated only with a slight and transient increase in S-VEGF levels, and, therefore, is unlikely to interfere markedly with the use of VEGF as a prognostic marker.
Bondestam
J
J
Department of Oncology, Helsinki University Central Hospital, Finland.
Salven
P
P
Jääskela-Saari
H
H
Ikonen
T
T
Lepäntalo
M
M
Mattila
S
S
Joensuu
H
H
D016228:Endothelial Growth Factors / Q000097:blood*; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008222:Lymphokines / Q000097:blood*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011379:Prognosis; D020033:Protein Isoforms / Q000097:blood; D013514:Surgical Procedures, Operative; D013997:Time Factors; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; D042442:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factors
D016228:Endothelial Growth Factors; D008222:Lymphokines; D020033:Protein Isoforms; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; D042442:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factors