Plasma angiopoietin-1, angiopoietin-2 and Tie-2 in breast and prostate cancer: a comparison with VEGF and Flt-1.
BACKGROUND
Angiogenesis is essential for tumour growth and metastasis, and is coordinated by several classes of growth factors mediating their effect through receptors linked, in turn, to tyrosine kinase. These growth factors include angiopoietin-1 (Ang-1), angiopoietin-2 (Ang-2) and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), which act through receptors Flt-1 and Tie-2.


METHODS
In order to further determine abnormalities in levels of Ang-1, Ang-2, Tie-2, sFlt-1 and VEGF in human cancer (and their interrelationships), these molecules were measured in plasma from 30 patients with breast cancer, 30 patients with prostate cancer and 12 healthy controls per cancer group.


RESULTS
In breast cancer, levels of Ang-1 (P=0.0005), Ang-2 (P=0.0173), Tie-2 (P=0.0001), and VEGF (P=0.0001) were all significantly raised, and plasma levels of sFlt-1 (P=0.045) were significantly reduced compared with controls. However, in prostate cancer, only levels of VEGF and Tie-2 were significantly higher (both P=0.001). There were no significant differences between levels of any molecule between the two groups of cancer. The only difference between the healthy control groups was lower Ang-1 in the women compared with men. Significant correlations were found between levels of Ang-1 and Tie-2 both in breast (r=0.498, P=0.005) and prostate cancer (r=0.643, P=<0.001). Angiopoietin-1 was also positively correlated with Ang-2 in both breast (r=0.422, P=0.02) and prostate cancer (r=0.543, P=0.002).


CONCLUSIONS
Abnormal levels of Ang-1, Ang-2 and their receptor, Tie-2, are present in breast and prostate cancer, and their interrelationships may be important in the pathophysiology of these conditions.
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D042683:Angiopoietin-1 / Q000097:blood*; D042702:Angiopoietin-2 / Q000097:blood*; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000097:blood*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins / Q000097:blood*; D011471:Prostatic Neoplasms / Q000097:blood*; D042787:Receptor, TIE-2 / Q000097:blood; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / Q000097:blood; D040281:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptor-1 / Q000097:blood
D042683:Angiopoietin-1; D042702:Angiopoietin-2; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; D042787:Receptor, TIE-2; D040281:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptor-1