title: [Clinical significance of quantitative analysis of serum VEGF, CD44s, and MMP-3 protein in nasopharyngeal carcinoma].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Increasing evidences showed that circulating tumor metastasis related factors could be detected, and it is related to tumor stage, and prognosis. This study was to investigate the correlation of serum vascular endothelial growth factor (sVEGF), CD44 standard (CD44s), and matrix metalloproteinase-3 (MMP-3) level to the clinical outcomes in nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC)patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  Forty-six NPC patients without metastasis, 20 NPC patients with local recurrence and/or distant metastasis,and 28 healthy controls entered this study. Serum VEGF, CD44s, and MMP-3 protein were quantitatively analyzed by enzyme-link immunosorbent assay (ELISA).
  
  
  RESULTS
  The mean level of sVEGF in metastatic NPC was (791.7+/-560.5) ng/L, which was significantly higher than that in NPC patients without metastasis [(429.0+/-249.7) ng/L], and healthy controls [(424.6+/-197.1) ng/L], whereas there was no significant difference between NPC patients without metastasis and healthy controls. In primary NPC patients, sVEGF level in NPC of stage T4 were significantly higher than those in NPC of stage T1-T3. Moreover, 2-year disease-free survival rate in patients with sVEGF level of more than 600 ng/L was significantly lower than that in patients with sVEGF Level of less than 600 ng/L (37.5% vs 83.9%). The serum level of MMP-3 in NPC patients with metastasis [(28.8+/-15.5)microg/L] was significantly higher than that in patients without metastasis [(19.8+/-11.6) microg/L], and healthy controls [(16.2+/-11.1) microg/L], but there was no significant difference between NPC patients without metastasis and healthy controls. Though the serum level of CD44s in NPC patients (including patients with or without metastasis) was higher than that in healthy controls, there was no significant difference between NPC patients with and without metastasis. No correlation was observed between serum MMP-3, CD44s level and clinical outcomes of NPC.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our results indicate that when the sVEGF level are >or= 800 ng/L and/or serum MMP-3 level >or= 30 microg/L in NPC patients, local recurrence or distant metastasis would occur. In primary NPC patients without metastasis, sVEGF level is correlate with primary tumor progression, moreover, sVEGF level of >or= 600 ng/L before treatment predicate lower 2-year disease-free survival rate.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Oncology, Cancer Center, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, 510060, PR China.
authors.forename: Yu-Hong
authors.initials: YH
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Jian-Yong
authors.initials: JY
authors.lastname: Shao
authors.forename: Su
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Ben-Yan
authors.initials: BY
authors.lastname: Zou
authors.forename: Hui-Qiang
authors.initials: HQ
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.forename: Zhong-Zhen
authors.initials: ZZ
authors.lastname: Guan
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D018572:Disease-Free Survival; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D018960:Hyaluronan Receptors / Q000097:blood*; D008297:Male; D019278:Matrix Metalloproteinase 3 / Q000097:blood*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009303:Nasopharyngeal Neoplasms / Q000097:blood* / Q000473:pathology; D009362:Neoplasm Metastasis; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D011379:Prognosis; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / Q000097:blood*
chemical_list: D018960:Hyaluronan Receptors; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; D019278:Matrix Metalloproteinase 3