title: Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) concentration in sera and tumor effusions from patients with ovarian carcinoma.
abstract: VEGF is an important angiogenic cytokine with a critical role in tumor angiogenesis. VEGF concentrations were measured using an ELISA assay, detecting VEGF165 isoform, in tumor cyst and/or ascitic fluids and in sera of 86 patients with malignant neoplasms and in 53 patients with benign ovarian neoplasms. VEGF levels were significantly elevated in the sera and cyst fluids of carcinoma patients compared with patients who had benign neoplasms. In carcinoma patients, statistically higher VEGF levels were detected in tumor effusions than in corresponding sera. The differences between VEGF values in sera and tumor effusions in relation to histological subtypes of ovarian carcinoma and FIGO stages were statistically insignificant. High VEGF levels in ascitic fluids appeared to be significantly associated with shorter disease-free survival and overall survival In multivariate analysis, besides FIGO stage and age of patients, only serum VEGF concentration was an independent prognostic factor for overall survival. The elevated VEGF levels in sera and tumor effusions of patients with FIGO stages I/II indicated that angiogenesis promoted by VEGF is a continuous process, independent of clinical advancement of the disease.
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Immunology, Wroclaw Medical University, Wroclaw, Poland. immuno@immuno.am.wroc.pl
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Harlozinska
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Sedlaczek
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Kulpa
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Grybos
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Wójcik
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Van Dalen
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Einarsson
mesh_terms: D001202:Ascitic Fluid / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D020420:Cyst Fluid / Q000378:metabolism; D018450:Disease Progression; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D010051:Ovarian Neoplasms / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D012372:ROC Curve; D015996:Survival Rate; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: C467484:VEGFA protein, human; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A