Vascular endothelial growth factor in the serum of patients with non-small cell lung cancer: correlation with platelet and leukocyte counts.
BACKGROUND
Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) is a potent angiogenic peptide expressed in a wide variety of tumors, and it stimulates angiogenesis and increases vascular permeability. Increased expression of VEGF may be associated with advanced stage and poor prognosis in patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).


METHODS
Using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, the levels of VEGF were determined in serum from 41 patients with untreated NSCLC (Stage: IIB, 3; IIIA, 6; IIIB, 17; IV, 15;


RESULTS
squamous cell carcinoma, 18; adenocarcinoma. 14; undetermined, 9).


RESULTS
The median VEGF level was 312 pg/ml, ranging from 70 to 1440 pg/ml. Patients were divided into high VEGF (>312 pg/ml) and low VEGF (< or =312 pg/ml) groups using the median value as a cut-off. There were no significant associations between the serum VEGF levels and various clinicopathologic characteristics including age, gender, histologic type, stage and treatment. A significant positive correlation was found between serum VEGF levels and platelet counts (r=0.495; P=0.001). In addition, serum VEGF levels also correlated with leukocyte counts (r=0.478; P=0.002). In seven patients with measurement of follow-up serum VEGF levels at the end of treatment (chemotherapy and/or radiotherapy), the median serum VEGF level significantly decreased after the treatment (416 pg/ml; range, 96-812 pg/ml vs. 185 pg/ml; range, 49-487 pg/ml; P=0.028). However, the median platelet count (317,000/microl; range, 190,000-395,000/microl vs. 246,000/microl; range, 72,000-271,000/microl; P=0.028) and leukocyte count (10,000/microl; range, 8700-17,200/microl vs. 5100/microl; range, 3900-9500/microl; P=0.018) also decreased after the treatment. There was no statistically significant difference in the median survival of the patients between high VEGF group and low VEGF group (8 months vs. 9 months, P=0.647).


CONCLUSIONS
Although serum VEGF level was significantly associated with platelet and leukocyte counts in NSCLC patients, it did not correlate with tumor burden and prognosis of the patients.
Choi
J H
JH
Department of Hematology-Oncology, Ajou University School of Medicine, Sowon 442-721, South Korea. jhchoimj@unitel.co.kr
Kim
H C
HC
Lim
H Y
HY
Nam
D K
DK
Kim
H S
HS
Yi
J W
JW
Chun
M
M
Oh
Y T
YT
Kang
S
S
Park
K J
KJ
Hwang
S C
SC
Lee
Y H
YH
Hahn
M H
MH
D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000097:blood* / Q000628:therapy; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002289:Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung / Q000097:blood* / Q000628:therapy; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000097:blood* / Q000628:therapy; D016228:Endothelial Growth Factors / Q000097:blood*; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007958:Leukocyte Count; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000097:blood*; D008222:Lymphokines / Q000097:blood*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D010976:Platelet Count; D011379:Prognosis; 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