[Association between elevated serum VEGF and polarographically measured tumor hypoxia in head and neck carcinomas].
OBJECTIVE
Clinical investigation of a potential relationship between VEGF concentration in serum (sVEGF) and polarographically measured tumor oxygenation in patients with squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck (SCCHN).


METHODS
In 56 patients with SCCHN we estimated the classical tumor parameters, the sVEGF concentration (immunoassay) and the tumor oxygenation (Eppendorf pO2 histograph). The platelet count and the tumor volume were evaluated simultaneously.


RESULTS
In a unifactorial analysis the total volume (132 cm3 vs. 38 cm3), the hypoxic subvolume (HSV = total volume multiplied with the relative frequency of values < or = 5 mm Hg/63 cm3 vs. 10 cm3) and the platelet count (380 10(9)/l vs. 271 10(9)/l) were significantly higher in the patient group with a sVEGF level > 707 pg/ml compared to the group with a sVEGF below this threshold. The multifactorial analysis confirmed significant effects for the hypoxic subvolume and the platelet count. Regarding hypoxic subvolume and sVEGF as continuous parameters a significantly positive correlation was found. This correlation remained somewhat weaker but significant after inclusion of the platelet count as covariate.


CONCLUSIONS
On base of our data a clinical association between elevated sVEGF and polarographically measured tumor hypoxia could be confirmed. This was possible considering not only the relative grade of hypoxia but also the absolute amount of hypoxic regions. The VEGF released from platelets during blood clotting influences the sVEGF level essentially, however, the hypoxia effect was not completely deleted. Due to the platelet effect an estimation of sVEGF is not able to substitute polarographical measurement of tumor pO2. Therefore in an ongoing study we investigate whether VEGF values estimated in plasma are better correlated with the polarographically measured tumor pO2 than serum VEGF levels.
Becker
A
A
Institut für Biometrie, Martin-Luther-Universität Halle-Wittenberg. axel.becker@medizin.uni-halle.de
Stadler
P
P
Krause
U
U
Utzig
D
D
Hänsgen
G
G
Lautenschläger
C
C
Rath
F W
FW
Molls
M
M
Dunst
J
J
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D015687:Cell Hypoxia; D016228:Endothelial Growth Factors / Q000097:blood*; D005260:Female; D006258:Head and Neck Neoplasms / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D008222:Lymphokines / Q000097:blood*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010100:Oxygen / Q000378:metabolism*; D010976:Platelet Count; D011048:Polarography; D012306:Risk; 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; D010100:Oxygen