[Serum levels of VEGF and nitric oxide in esophageal squamous carcinoma patients and the clinical significance].
OBJECTIVE
Angiogenesis is necessary for the growth and metastasis of malignant tumor and is closely related to vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and nitric oxide (NO). This investigation was aimed to detect the serum levels of VEGF and NO in squamous carcinoma patients and analyze the clinical significance for prognosis evaluation.


METHODS
Serum VEGF and NO levels were detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbant assay (ELISA) and spectrophotometry, respectively, and their clinical significance was analyzed.


RESULTS
Serum levels of VEGF and NO in squamous carcinoma patients were significantly higher than that of in normal persons (P < 0.01). There was a positive correlation between serum VEGF, NO levels and tumor pathological phases, histological grades and lymph node metastasis (P < 0.01). There was also a positive correlation between serum VEGF level and serum NO level (P < 0.01).


CONCLUSIONS
Serum levels of VEGF and NO in squamous carcinoma patients were significantly correlated to the growth, development and malignant behavior of tumor and thus may serve as the indexes for clinical prognosis evaluation.
Zhang
Tao
T
Department of Thoracic Surgery, Tangdu Hospital, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, 710038, P. R. China.
Zhang
Feng
F
Jiang
Tao
T
Li
Xiao-fei
XF
Wang
Yun-jie
YJ
Liu
Kun
K
D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000097:blood* / Q000473:pathology; D004938:Esophageal Neoplasms / Q000097:blood* / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007889:Leiomyoma / Q000097:blood / Q000473:pathology; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D009569:Nitric Oxide / Q000097:blood*; D011379:Prognosis; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / Q000097:blood*
D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; D009569:Nitric Oxide