Higher plasma vascular endothelial growth factor levels correlate with menopause, overexpression of p53, and recurrence of breast cancer.
OBJECTIVE
Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) is an important factor involved in angiogenesis. Many studies have reported that the expression of VEGF in breast cancer is an unfavorable prognostic factor. However, there are few studies that have analyzed blood VEGF levels because most used serum VEGF, generally thought to originate from platelets. We measured plasma VEGF levels, which evaluate the level of tumor-derived VEGF, in various breast diseases.


METHODS
We analyzed 15 patients with benign breast disease, 187 patients with primary breast cancer, 32 patients with no postoperative recurrence, and 56 patients with recurrence. Plasma VEGF levels were measured by ELISA.


RESULTS
Plasma VEGF levels were higher in malignant than in benign breast disease, and were also high in patients with recurrence or distant metastasis. In primary cases, higher VEGF levels were clearly correlated with menopause and overexpression of p53, and postmenopausal patients with high levels had a significantly lower disease-free survival rate.


CONCLUSIONS
These results suggest that plasma VEGF levels in breast cancer have a clinical significance in that they are associated with the extent or metastasis of malignant lesions and are involved in angiogenesis in postmenopausal patients.
Department of Surgery, Kumamoto City Hospital, 1-1-60 Kotoh, Kumamoto City, Kumamoto 862-8505, Japan.
Reiki
R
Nishimura
Kazuharu
K
Nagao
Haruhiko
H
Miyayama
Masakazu
M
Matsuda
Ken-ichirou
K
Baba
Hiroya
H
Yamashita
Makoto
M
Fukuda
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy; D017024:Chemotherapy, Adjuvant / Q000379:methods; D002979:Climacteric; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D016228:Endothelial Growth Factors / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D036341:Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism*; D008222:Lymphokines / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism*; D008408:Mastectomy; D008875:Middle Aged; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D009389:Neovascularization, Pathologic / Q000378:metabolism*; D011379:Prognosis; D016019:Survival Analysis; D016159:Tumor Suppressor Protein p53 / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; D042442:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factors
D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D016228:Endothelial Growth Factors; D036341:Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins; D008222:Lymphokines; D016159:Tumor Suppressor Protein p53; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; D042442:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factors