title: Serum evaluation of angiogenic cytokine basic fibroblast growth factor, hepatocyte growth factor and TNF-alpha in patients with myelodysplastic syndromes: correlation with bone marrow microvascular density.
abstract: Recent studies have documented that angiogenesis plays a significant role in haematological malignancies, including mylodysplastic syndromes (MDS). Basic fibroblast growth factor (b-FGF), Hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) and Tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) are multifunctional cytokines that potently stimulate angiogenesis. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the microvascular density (MVD) and the serum levels of these angiogenic factors in patients with myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS). In 61 patients with MDS, MVD was measured in bone marrow biopsies and b-FGF, HGF and TNF-alpha were determined in the serum of the same patients by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Serum levels of b-FGF, HGF and TNF-alpha as well as MVD in the bone marrow were increased in MDS patients compared to healthy controls (p<0.0001). Levels of b-FGF, HGF and TNF-alpha were also significantly higher in high-risk for leukemic transformation MDS than in low-risk (p<0.0001). Significant differences were also found regarding MVD in high and low risk patients (p<0.001). Both b-FGF and HGF levels were significant predictors of survival (p<0.0005, log-rank test). The present study showed that serum levels of b-FGF, HGF and TNF-alpha are significantly increased and dependent on the severity of MDS suggesting that the determination of these parameters may offer considerable information regarding disease progression and prognosis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Hematology, University Hospital of Heraklion, Crete, Greece. freda@med.uoc.gr
authors.forename: M G
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Alexandrakis
authors.forename: F H
authors.initials: FH
authors.lastname: Passam
authors.forename: C A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Pappa
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Damilakis
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Tsirakis
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Kandidaki
authors.forename: A M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Passam
authors.forename: E N
authors.initials: EN
authors.lastname: Stathopoulos
authors.forename: D S
authors.initials: DS
authors.lastname: Kyriakou
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D043925:Angiogenesis Inducing Agents / Q000097:blood*; D001853:Bone Marrow / Q000098:blood supply*; D018450:Disease Progression; D005260:Female; D016222:Fibroblast Growth Factor 2 / Q000097:blood; D017228:Hepatocyte Growth Factor / Q000097:blood; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008833:Microcirculation / Q000473:pathology; D008875:Middle Aged; D009190:Myelodysplastic Syndromes / Q000097:blood* / Q000473:pathology; D009389:Neovascularization, Pathologic / Q000097:blood* / Q000473:pathology; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D043925:Angiogenesis Inducing Agents; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D016222:Fibroblast Growth Factor 2; D017228:Hepatocyte Growth Factor