[Detection and clinical significance of plasma vascular endothelial growth factor level in gastrointestinal stromal tumor patients].
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the clinical significance of plasma vascular endothelial growth factor (p-VEGF) levels in gastrointestinal stromal tumor (GIST) patients.


METHODS
The p-VEGF levels in 61 primary GIST patients, 18 patients with recurrence or metastasis, and 28 healthy blood donators (as control) were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Paired p-VEGF levels of pre- and post-treatment were obtained from 44 patients. One patient received 22 consecutive detections during the follow up.


RESULTS
Primary and recurrent GIST patients had higher p-VEGF levels than healthy controls [(145.31+/-45.58) ng/L, (145.72+/-52.73) ng/L vs (89.86+/-18.30) ng/L] (P<0.01). And there were no significant differences between primary patients and patients with recurrence or metastasis (P>0.05). Significant difference were found in the p-VEGF levels between pre- and post-treatment patients (P<0.01). Post-treatment p-VEGF levels decreased markedly both in 26 primary and 11 recurrent patients [(101.81+/-27.63) ng/L and (112.45+/-38.58) ng/L]. As for the patient with 22 consecutive detections during the follow up, p-VEGF levels the period of were higher before surgery and after recurrence, and lower two months after surgery and during Glivec therapy.


CONCLUSIONS
The p-VEGF level of GIST patients is significantly higher than that of healthy people, which will decrease markedly after effective management. Monitoring the p-VEGF level in GIST patients will be helpful to evaluate the therapeutic efficacy and predict the recurrence or metastasis.
Liu
Jing-lei
JL
Department of General Surgery, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, China.
Qin
Jing
J
Hou
Ying-yong
YY
Shen
Kun-tang
KT
Wang
Cong
C
Su
Ping
P
Wang
Xue-fei
XF
Sun
Yi-hong
YH
D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005260:Female; D046152:Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumors / Q000097:blood* / Q000473:pathology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009362:Neoplasm Metastasis; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / Q000097:blood*
C467484:VEGFA protein, human; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A