Circulating numbers of endothelial progenitor cells in patients with gastric and breast cancer.
Angiogenic factors like VEGF or G-CSF were reported to mobilize endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) from the bone marrow. These EPCs were shown to be incorporated in the neovessels of developing tumors. Although the concentrations of angiogenic factors in the peripheral blood were reported to be elevated in cancer patients, the number of circulating EPCs has not been previously investigated. In this study, the number of EPCs circulating in the blood in 16 healthy controls and 71 newly diagnosed cancer patients was examined by a culture assay of peripheral blood mononuclear cells. The number of circulating EPCs was not found to be increased in cancer patients, although the plasma levels of VEGF were elevated. It is suggested that VEGF, at concentrations typical of those observed in the blood of cancer patients, does not mobilize EPCs into the peripheral blood.
Kim
Hyun Kyung
HK
Research Institute and Hospital, National Cancer Center, Goyang, Gyeonggi, South Korea. lukekhk@ncc.re.kr
Song
Kyung Soon
KS
Kim
Hyun Ok
HO
Chung
Jun-Ho
JH
Lee
Kyoung Rhan
KR
Lee
Young-Joon
YJ
Lee
Dae Ho
DH
Lee
Eun Sook
ES
Kim
Hark Kyun
HK
Ryu
Keun Won
KW
Bae
Jae-Moon
JM
D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000098:blood supply*; D016228:Endothelial Growth Factors / Q000097:blood; D004727:Endothelium / Q000166:cytology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D036341:Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins / Q000097:blood; D008222:Lymphokines / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D023461:Myeloid Progenitor Cells; D013274:Stomach Neoplasms / Q000098:blood supply*; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; D042442:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factors
D016228:Endothelial Growth Factors; D036341:Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins; D008222:Lymphokines; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; D042442:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factors