Expression of VEGF-C and its receptor VEGFR-3 in the bone marrow of patients with acute myeloid leukaemia.
Vascular endothelial growth factor-C (VEGF-C) has been shown to promote survival and resistance to chemotherapy of AML-cells in vitro. We investigated the expression of VEGF-C/VEGFR-3 in the bone marrow and pretherapeutic plasma levels of VEGF-C in patients with newly diagnosed AML. Expression of VEGF-C/VEGFR-3 was significantly higher in AML patients than in controls, while circulating levels did not differ. However, VEGF-C/VEGFR-3 expression was not able to predict clinical outcome. In conclusion, AML is associated with an increased expression of VEGF-C/VEGFR-3. Although expression levels display no prognostic significance in our study, strategies targeting the VEGF-C/VEGFR-3-pathway might be a promising treatment approach.
Liersch
Ruediger
R
Department of Medicine/Hematology and Oncology, University of Muenster, Albert-Schweitzer-Strasse 33, D-48129 Muenster, Germany.
Schliemann
Christoph
C
Bieker
Ralf
R
Hintelmann
Heike
H
Buechner
Thomas
T
Berdel
Wolfgang E
WE
Mesters
Rolf M
RM
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001853:Bone Marrow / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D015331:Cohort Studies; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007124:Immunoenzyme Techniques; D015470:Leukemia, Myeloid, Acute / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011379:Prognosis; D012074:Remission Induction; D015996:Survival Rate; D042582:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor C / Q000378:metabolism*; D040321:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptor-3 / Q000378:metabolism*
D042582:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor C; D040321:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptor-3