Angiogenic factors: vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and basic fibroblast growth factor (b-FGF) are not necessarily elevated in patients with advanced renal cell carcinoma.
Serum analysis of Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor (VEGF) and basic Fibroblast Growth Factor (b-FGF) levels were studied in 53 patients with renal cell carcinoma (RCC). Approximately 2/3 of the patients had disseminated disease at diagnosis, the remainder had no evidence of metastases. The results confirmed that VEGF has a major role in the angiogenesis of RCC. No correlation was observed between VEGF and/or b-FGF and the presence or absence of metastases, nor was any correlation observed between VEGF and/or b-FGF and patient survival. Thus, to utilise VEGF and/or b-FGF as a tumour marker at the time of diagnosis to predict patients with a high risk of progression, where an adjuvant therapeutic approach would be of great value, seems to be limited. Not all patients with RCC exhibited elevated serum levels of VEGF and/or b-FGF. No correlation was observed between tumour stage and serum levels of these angiogenic peptides.
Edgren
M
M
Radiumhemmet, Cancer Center Karolinska, Karolinska Institute, Stockholm, Sweden.
Lennernäs
B
B
Larsson
A
A
Kälkner
K M
KM
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002292:Carcinoma, Renal Cell / Q000097:blood* / Q000150:complications / Q000401:mortality / Q000503:physiopathology; D016228:Endothelial Growth Factors / Q000097:blood*; D005260:Female; D016222:Fibroblast Growth Factor 2 / Q000097:blood*; D006801:Humans; D007680:Kidney Neoplasms / Q000097:blood* / Q000150:complications / Q000401:mortality / Q000503:physiopathology; D008222:Lymphokines / Q000097:blood*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009389:Neovascularization, Pathologic; D015996:Survival Rate; 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; D016222:Fibroblast Growth Factor 2