title: Circulating angiogenic cytokines as tumour markers and prognostic factors in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma.
abstract: This pilot study investigated the potential use of three circulating angiogenesis-related cytokines, basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF), angiogenin (ANG) and endostatin, as tumour markers and prognostic factors in patients with head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC). A total of 30 patients with HNSCC treated with curative intent and 15 healthy controls were studied. Serum (bFGF and ANG) and plasma (endostatin) was assayed by enzyme-linked immunoabsorbance assay (ELISA). None of the cytokines was raised in HNSCC patients when compared with controls. Serum bFGF was not associated with any clinico-pathological or outcome parameters, although there was a trend towards higher levels in more advanced and aggressive tumours. Lower serum angiogenin (sANG) levels were associated with loco-regional disease recurrence (P = 0.036). Using a cut-off level of 400 pg/mL, a low level of sANG predicted tumour recurrence with a relative risk of 4.0 (95% CI: 0.7-24.0). Plasma endostatin was associated with higher histological grade (P = 0.01) and with both disease recurrence (P = 0.045) and death from disease (P = 0.021). Plasma endostatin above a cut-off point of 70 ng/mL could predict tumour recurrence with a relative risk of 4.7 (95% CI: 1.1-19.7). These data suggest that plasma endostatin and sANG have potential roles as prognostic factors and require further investigation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Hull Royal Infirmary, University of Hull, Hull, UK. jarrod@homer67.freeserve.co.uk
authors.forename: J J
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Homer
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Greenman
authors.forename: N D
authors.initials: ND
authors.lastname: Stafford
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D043925:Angiogenesis Inducing Agents / Q000097:blood*; D020533:Angiogenesis Inhibitors / Q000097:blood*; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000097:blood*; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000175:diagnosis*; D003094:Collagen / Q000097:blood*; D043169:Endostatins; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D016222:Fibroblast Growth Factor 2 / Q000097:blood*; D006258:Head and Neck Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis*; D006801:Humans; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local; D010446:Peptide Fragments / Q000097:blood*; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011379:Prognosis; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012259:Ribonuclease, Pancreatic / Q000097:blood*
chemical_list: D043925:Angiogenesis Inducing Agents; D020533:Angiogenesis Inhibitors; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D043169:Endostatins; D010446:Peptide Fragments; D016222:Fibroblast Growth Factor 2; D003094:Collagen; C046366:angiogenin; D012259:Ribonuclease, Pancreatic