Plasma vascular endothelial growth factor concentrations in healthy dogs and dogs with hemangiosarcoma.
Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) is a dimeric glycosylated polypeptide growth factor with potent angiogenic, mitogenic, and vascular permeability-enhancing properties specific for endothelial cells. In humans, VEGF seems to play a major role in tumor growth, and plasma concentrations correlate with tumor burden, response to therapy, and disease progression. This study compared plasma VEGF concentrations in healthy client-owned dogs (n = 17) to dogs with hemangiosarcoma (HSA; n 16). Dogs with HSA were significantly more likely to have detectable concentrations of plasma VEGF (13/17) compared to healthy dogs (1/17; P < .001). The median plasma VEGF concentration for dogs with HSA was 17.2 pg/mL (range, < 1.0-66.7 pg/mL). Plasma VEGF concentrations in dogs with HSA did not correlate with stage of disease or tumor burden, but 1 dog had undetectable VEGF during chemotherapy that subsequently increased with disease progression.
Clifford
C A
CA
University of Pennsylvania, Veterinary Teaching Hospital, Department of Clinical Sciences, School of Veterinary Medicine, Philadelphia 19104, USA. ccliff2@hotmail.com
Hughes
D
D
Beal
M W
MW
Mackin
A J
AJ
Henry
C J
CJ
Shofer
F S
FS
Sorenmo
K U
KU
D000818:Animals; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D004283:Dog Diseases / Q000097:blood*; D004285:Dogs / Q000097:blood*; D016228:Endothelial Growth Factors / Q000097:blood*; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay / Q000662:veterinary; D005260:Female; D006394:Hemangiosarcoma / Q000097:blood / Q000662:veterinary*; D008222:Lymphokines / Q000097:blood*; D008297:Male; D009389:Neovascularization, Pathologic / Q000662:veterinary; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; D042442:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factors
D016228:Endothelial Growth Factors; D008222:Lymphokines; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; D042442:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factors