Circulating basic fibroblast growth factor is partly derived from the tumour in patients with colon, cervical and ovarian cancer.
In order to investigate whether the high bFGF serum levels encountered in cancer patients are derived from the tumour, we analysed serum bFGF levels in 18 untreated randomly selected patients with operable colorectal, cervical and ovarian cancer in the blood draining the tumour, i.e., in mesenteric and uterine veins, and compared these with arterial samples. No significantly elevated bFGF levels were found in the veins draining the tumours compared with arterial samples in our patient population. This suggests that, in contrast to what is generally presumed, serum bFGF levels might also be derived from other sources besides the tumour, e.g., platelets.
Angiogenesis Group, Oncology Centre, St.-Augustinus Hospital, Wilrijk, Belgium.
R
R
Salgado
I
I
Benoy
P
P
Vermeulen
P
P
van Dam
E
E
Van Marck
L
L
Dirix
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003110:Colonic Neoplasms / Q000097:blood / Q000098:blood supply / Q000737:chemistry; D005260:Female; D016222:Fibroblast Growth Factor 2 / Q000097:blood*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins / Q000097:blood*; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000097:blood / Q000098:blood supply / Q000737:chemistry*; D010051:Ovarian Neoplasms / Q000097:blood / Q000098:blood supply / Q000737:chemistry; D013152:Splanchnic Circulation; D002583:Uterine Cervical Neoplasms / Q000097:blood / Q000098:blood supply / Q000737:chemistry; D014599:Uterus / Q000098:blood supply
D009363:Neoplasm Proteins; D016222:Fibroblast Growth Factor 2