title: Vascular endothelial growth factor and basic fibroblast growth factor in patients with squamous cell oesophageal cancer.
abstract: It is suggested that vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) play an important role in tumor-induced angiogenesis. The purpose of this study was to estimate the correlation between VEGF and bFGF levels and tumor pathological status according to pTNM classification in patients with squamous cell oesophageal cancer. A group of 25 healthy controls and 32 consecutive patients with oesophageal cancer were included in this study. Serum VEGF and bFGF levels were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (Quantikine R&D Systems). Serum VEGF and bFGF levels were significantly elevated in the patient groups (VEGF: 146.0 pg/ml, 79.0-386.3 pg/ml vs. 38.0 pg/ml, 6.5-135.1 pg/ml, p<0.005, and bFGF: 5.2 pg/ml, 1.2-10.6 pg/ml vs. 2.06 pg/ml, 0.07-4.0 pg/ml, p<0.02 Fisher test). The highest correlation between serum VEGF and bFGF levels were found in patients with advanced cancers, especially with: T4, N1, and M1 factors. The VEGF and bFGF levels were significantly higher in patients with pT4 (p<0.01). Patients with N1 lymph node invasion, compared with N0 factor, have higher levels of angiogenetic factors (p<0.04). Also in patients with advanced cancers with liver metastases the serum levels VEGF and bFGF were significantly higher (M1 vs. M0, VEGF p<0.001 and bFGF p<0.05). Consecutive monitoring of VEGF and bFGF serum levels may be a useful prognostic marker for patients with squamous cell oesophageal cancer.
authors.affiliation: 2nd Department of General Surgery, University School of Medicine, Lublin, Poland.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Wallner
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ciechański
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Dabrowski
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kozłowski
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Roliński
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Laudański
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Cwik
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D015415:Biomarkers; D016228:Endothelial Growth Factors / Q000097:blood*; D004938:Esophageal Neoplasms / Q000097:blood* / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D016222:Fibroblast Growth Factor 2 / Q000097:blood*; D006801:Humans; D008222:Lymphokines / Q000097:blood*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D018307:Neoplasms, Squamous Cell / Q000097:blood* / Q000473:pathology; D009389:Neovascularization, Pathologic / Q000097:blood / Q000473:pathology; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011379:Prognosis; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; D042442:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factors
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D016228:Endothelial Growth Factors; D008222:Lymphokines; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; D042442:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factors; D016222:Fibroblast Growth Factor 2