title: Pro-neoangiogenic cytokines (VEGF and bFGF) and anemia in solid tumor patients.
abstract: Using a commercial ELISA assay, we evaluated circulating VEGF and bFGF levels in 203 consecutive patients with solid tumors, and sought a correlation between them and with the grade of anemia. Serum VEGF values were within the normal range in 128 patients (63.05%), with a mean value of 675.04 pg/ml (median, 571.00; range, 0-2796.54). The analysis of VEGF values per tumor group did not provide any statistically significant difference. Regarding bFGF, 143 patients (70.44%) had measurable, and thus abnormal, bFGF values. Overall, mean bFGF serum value was 57.14 pg/ml (median, 8.30; range, 0-4334.71), with the highest bFGF levels found in breast carcinoma patients. As expected, a large number of our patients was fairly anemic, mean hemoglobin level being 11.47 g/dl (median, 11.30; range, 7.1-19.20), the lowest titers being observed in prostate carcinoma patients. No statistically significant correlation was found between serum VEGF and hemoglobin values (r=0.004) but a significant negative correlation was seen between serum bFGF and hemoglobin (r=-0.22, p<0.05). Considering the different tumor groups, a statistically significant negative correlation between bFGF and hemoglobin becomes even more apparent in the subgroup of renal carcinoma patients (r=-0.55, p<0.05). In conclusion, our results demonstrate that there is a statistically significant correlation between systemic hypoxia (evaluated in terms of hemoglobin levels) and circulating bFGF values, but not VEGF; this correlation may lead to therapeutic interventions.
authors.affiliation: Medical Oncology, I.R.C.C.S. San Matteo University Hospital, Piazzale C. Golgi, I-27100 Pavia, Italy. c.porta@smatteo.pv.it
authors.forename: Camillo
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Porta
authors.forename: Ilaria
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Imarisio
authors.forename: Mara
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: De Amici
authors.forename: Lucia
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Bonomi
authors.forename: Chiara
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Paglino
authors.forename: Elisa
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Biscaldi
authors.forename: Matteo
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Zimatore
authors.forename: Andrea
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sartore-Bianchi
authors.forename: Marco
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Danova
authors.forename: Remigio
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Moratti
authors.forename: Alberto
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Riccardi
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000740:Anemia / Q000150:complications / Q000378:metabolism*; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000378:metabolism; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000150:complications / Q000473:pathology; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D016222:Fibroblast Growth Factor 2 / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D006454:Hemoglobins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D000860:Hypoxia; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism; D009389:Neovascularization, Pathologic; D011471:Prostatic Neoplasms / Q000150:complications / Q000473:pathology; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / Q000096:biosynthesis*
chemical_list: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D006454:Hemoglobins; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; D016222:Fibroblast Growth Factor 2