Prognostic value of serum VEGF in melanoma patients: a pilot study.
BACKGROUND
Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) is involved in angiogenesis. We investigated the association of VEGF serum levels (pre-treatment and follow-up) with outcome in patients with melanoma.


METHODS
Serum levels of VEGF in melanoma patients at diagnosis and during follow-up were analysed with enzyme-linked immunoassays. Patients were followed up with physical examination and ultrasound scans of the liver every three months and thorax X-ray annually. The VEGF serum level was evaluated six-monthly.


RESULTS
From February 1996 to February 2000, 33 patients were enrolled. Ninety-two serum blood samples were collected. Patients had a median age of 60 years (range 32-82). Twenty patients were males, 13 females. One patient presented with stage IA disease, 2 with stage IB, 11 with stage IIA, 4 with stage IIB, 8 with stage III and 5 with stage IV. Two patients were affected by uveal melanoma. The melanomas were predominantly located at the extremities or trunk (26/33). The median serum level of VEGF at diagnosis was 249 ng/ml (minimum: 9 ng/ml, maximum: 1215 ng/ml). The median survival of all 33 patients was 45.1 months. The median time-to-progression was 36.7 months. Patients with lower or higher serum VEGF values showed no statistically significant differences in survival. In contrast, high serum VEGF values were associated with shorter disease-free survival as compared with lower values (median DFS: 25 vs 60 months, p = 0.048 at log-rank test).


CONCLUSIONS
Our results suggest that serum VEGF could be of prognostic value in melanoma.
Ascierto
Paolo Antonio
PA
Division of Clinical Immunology, National Cancer Institute, via M. Semmola, 80131 Naples, Italy.
Leonardi
Enrico
E
Ottaiano
Alessandro
A
Napolitano
Maria
M
Scala
Stefania
S
Castello
Giuseppe
G
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008545:Melanoma / Q000097:blood* / Q000473:pathology; D008875:Middle Aged; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011379:Prognosis; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000097:blood*; D014604:Uveal Neoplasms / Q000097:blood; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / Q000097:blood*
D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A