Resting and activated endothelial cells are increased in the peripheral blood of cancer patients.
Circulating endothelial cells (CECs) were enumerated in 20 healthy controls and 76 newly diagnosed cancer patients by means of 4-color flow cytometry. In breast cancer (n = 46) and lymphoma (n = 30) patients, both resting and activated CECs were increased by 5-fold (P <.0008 vs control). CECs significantly correlated with plasma levels of vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 and vascular endothelial growth factor. Resting and activated CECs were similar to healthy controls in 7 lymphoma patients achieving complete remission after chemotherapy, and activated CECs were found to decrease in 13 breast cancer patients evaluated before and 24 hours after quadrantectomy. (Blood. 2001;97:3658-3661)
Mancuso
P
P
Division of Hematology-Oncology, European Institute of Oncology, via Ripamonti 435, 20141 Milan, Italy.
Burlini
A
A
Pruneri
G
G
Goldhirsch
A
A
Martinelli
G
G
Bertolini
F
F
D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000097:blood* / Q000601:surgery; D002452:Cell Count; D016228:Endothelial Growth Factors / Q000097:blood; D004730:Endothelium, Vascular / Q000473:pathology*; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D006801:Humans; D008222:Lymphokines / Q000097:blood; D008223:Lymphoma / Q000097:blood* / Q000188:drug therapy; D012074:Remission Induction; D019010:Vascular Cell Adhesion Molecule-1 / Q000097:blood; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; D042442:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factors
D016228:Endothelial Growth Factors; D008222:Lymphokines; D019010:Vascular Cell Adhesion Molecule-1; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; D042442:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factors