Surrogate markers of tumoral angiogenesis.
BACKGROUND
Angiogenesis is a prerequisite for tumor growth and metastasis. Vascular cell adhesion molecule1 (VCAM-1) is expressed on endothelial cells as a result of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) stimulation.


OBJECTIVE
To determine if measurement in serum of VEGF or VCAM-1 provides an accurate measure of tumor angiogenesis.


METHODS
VCAM-1 and VEGF were measured in the serum of women with early and advanced breast cancer by ELISA. Levels were compared to levels of VCAM-1 and VEGF in women with normal breasts and levels of the endothelial glycoprotein von Willebrand factor. Levels of VEGF and VCAM-1 in women with early breast cancer were correlated with established clinicopathological prognostic markers and intratumoral microvessel density (IMD).


RESULTS
In early breast cancer serum VCAM-1 correlated closely with the microvessel density in tumors (r=0.61, p<0.001). Women with lymph node-positive and high-grade tumors had higher levels of serum VCAM-1 than women with lymph node-negative and low-grade tumors. Serum VEGF demonstrated no correlation with established prognostic features or IMD. Levels of VCAM-1 and VEGF were raised in women with advanced breast cancer.


CONCLUSIONS
Serum VCAM-1 is a surrogate marker of angiogenesis in breast cancer and its measurement may help in the assessment of antiangiogenic drugs currently in phase II trials.
Byrne
G J
GJ
Department of Surgery, University Hospital of South Manchester, UK.
Bundred
N J
NJ
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis*; D016228:Endothelial Growth Factors / Q000097:blood*; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008222:Lymphokines / Q000097:blood*; D008875:Middle Aged; D018396:Mucin-1 / Q000097:blood; D009360:Neoplastic Cells, Circulating; D009389:Neovascularization, Pathologic / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis*; D019408:Platelet Endothelial Cell Adhesion Molecule-1 / Q000097:blood; D019010:Vascular Cell Adhesion Molecule-1 / Q000097:blood*; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; D042442:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factors; D014841:von Willebrand Factor / Q000032:analysis
D016228:Endothelial Growth Factors; D008222:Lymphokines; D018396:Mucin-1; D019408:Platelet Endothelial Cell Adhesion Molecule-1; D019010:Vascular Cell Adhesion Molecule-1; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; D042442:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factors; D014841:von Willebrand Factor