title: VEGFR2 expressing circulating (progenitor) cell populations in volunteers and cancer patients.
abstract: Circulating cells of several lineages are thought to participate in angiogenesis and tumor growth. Experimental studies in tumor-bearing mice have pointed to the potential importance of VEGF-responding circulating (endothelial) progenitor cells in tumor growth. We have studied circulating CD31- and/or CD34-positive cell populations with a low to moderate VEGFR2 expression in human volunteers and cancer patients. We recognized four cell populations, which were further characterized by their content of major hematopoietic progenitor, monocytic, endothelial and platelet markers. After establishing the test-retest stability of the measurements in nine patients, we determined the frequencies of the various cell populations in a group of 20 volunteers and 14 cancer patients. Two populations were markedly increased in cancer patients. Small CD45(neg)/CD34(bright)/VEGFR2+ cells amounted to 12 and 64 cells/ml (P < 0.0001), respectively, and 246/ml and 578/ml VEGFR2+/CD45(bright) (/CD14+) monocytic cells were present in controls and cancer patients, respectively (P = 0.017). A third population of CD45(dim)/CD34(bright)/VEGFR2(low) cells amounted to 25 and 30 cells/ml (P = 0.38). Unexpectedly, a population of mainly anucleated CD45(low)/CD31(bright)/CD41(bright) cells was present in numbers of 9,076 and 16,697/ml (P = 0.04) in volunteers and cancer patients, which contained a VEGFR2(low) (compared to IgG isotype control) expressing population amounting to 1,142 and 1,642 cells/ml (P = 0.12). This fourth population probably reflects large platelets. The role of the herein identified VEGFR2+ circulating cell populations deserve further investigation in cancer patients treated with VEGF(R)-targeted therapies. Quantification of such cell populations in the blood of tumor patients may be valuable to monitor the efficacy of anti-angiogenic treatment.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Oncology, VU University Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Laura
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Vroling
authors.forename: Yuana
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Yuana
authors.forename: Gerrit Jan
authors.initials: GJ
authors.lastname: Schuurhuis
authors.forename: Victor W M
authors.initials: VW
authors.lastname: van Hinsbergh
authors.forename: Chad
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Gundy
authors.forename: Richard
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: de Haas
authors.forename: Hester
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: van Cruijsen
authors.forename: Epie
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Boven
authors.forename: Klaas
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Hoekman
authors.forename: Henk J
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Broxterman
mesh_terms: D018952:Antigens, CD34 / Q000032:analysis; D001773:Blood Cells / Q000166:cytology; D001775:Blood Circulation; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D042783:Endothelial Cells / Q000737:chemistry / Q000166:cytology*; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D006801:Humans; D017493:Leukocyte Common Antigens / Q000032:analysis; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000097:blood*; D013234:Stem Cells / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000166:cytology; D040301:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptor-2 / Q000032:analysis*
chemical_list: D018952:Antigens, CD34; D040301:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptor-2; D017493:Leukocyte Common Antigens