title: Vascular endothelial growth factor in the serum of patients with non-small cell lung cancer: correlation with platelet and leukocyte counts.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Department of Hematology-Oncology, Ajou University School of Medicine, Sowon 442-721, South Korea. jhchoimj@unitel.co.kr
authors.forename: J H
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Choi
authors.forename: H C
authors.initials: HC
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: H Y
authors.initials: HY
authors.lastname: Lim
authors.forename: D K
authors.initials: DK
authors.lastname: Nam
authors.forename: H S
authors.initials: HS
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: J W
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Yi
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Chun
authors.forename: Y T
authors.initials: YT
authors.lastname: Oh
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kang
authors.forename: K J
authors.initials: KJ
authors.lastname: Park
authors.forename: S C
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: Hwang
authors.forename: Y H
authors.initials: YH
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: M H
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Hahn
mesh_terms: 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
chemical_list: D016228:Endothelial Growth Factors; D008222:Lymphokines; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; D042442:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factors