[Expression of vascular endothelial growth factor and its receptors KDR and Flt1 in acute myeloid leukemia].
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the expression of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and its receptors KDR and Flt1 in patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML).


METHODS
The expression of VEGF and its receptors mRNA was assayed by RT-PCR, the plasma of VEGF by ELISA.


RESULTS
In 13 AML cell lines, the expression of VEGF, KDR and Flt1 mRNA were found in 13 (100%), 7 (53.8%) and 12 (92.3%), respectively. There were 21 (65.6%), 1 (3.1%), and 17 (53.1%) of 31 (AML) patients bone marrow mononuclear cells (BMMNCs) expressing VEGF, KDR and Flt1 mRNA, respectively. None of BMMNCs from 3 normal donor and CD(34)(+) cells from 2 normal donor was found to express VEGF, KDR and Flt1 mRNA. The plasma level of VEGF of 39 patients (new diagnosed, relapsed and secondary-AML) before treatment was (135.3 +/- 87.9) ng/L which was significantly higher than that of 15 complete remission (CR) patients (80.6 +/- 36.9) ng/L and 12 normal donors (80.6 +/- 33.1) micro g/L (P = 0.028, 0.007). The plasma level of VEGF of 15 non-responsive patients was (188.2 +/- 118.6) ng/L after two cycles of chemotherapy which was higher than that of 20 CR patients [(104.2 +/- 30.9) ng/L] (P = 0.004).


CONCLUSIONS
VEGF and its receptors KDR and Flt1 mRNAs were expressed in BMMNCs of AML patients. The plasma level of VEGF directly affected the response to chemotherapy in AML patients.
Wang
Yi
Y
Institute of Hematology, CAMS and PUMC, Tianjin 300020, China.
Xiao
Zhi-jian
ZJ
Liu
Peng
P
Yang
Chen
C
Yang
Ren-chi
RC
Cai
Ying-lin
YL
Han
Zhong-chao
ZC
D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D006801:Humans; D015470:Leukemia, Myeloid, Acute / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000378:metabolism*; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics; D040281:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptor-1 / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics; D040301:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptor-2 / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics
D012333:RNA, Messenger; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; C501162:FLT1 protein, human; D040281:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptor-1; D040301:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptor-2