title: Prognostic value of serum vascular endothelial growth factor in Egyptian females with metastatic triple negative breast cancer.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this work was to explore the value of serum vascular endothelial growth factor-A (VEGF-A) in patients with metastatic triple negative breast cancer (TNBC) treated with chemotherapy. The primary end point was overall survival (OS). Secondary end points were response rate (RR), progression-free survival (PFS) and VEGF-A level at baseline, mid-therapy and at the end of therapy.
  
  
  METHODS
  Female patients aged 18 years or above with histologically proven metastatic TNBC were included. Serum VEFG-A levels were measured at baseline, after the 3rd and 6th cycles of FAC chemotherapy regimen (Fluorourcil, Adriamycin, and Cyclophamide).
  
  
  RESULTS
  The overall RR was 57%. The median PFS and OS were 7 and 11.2 months, respectively (95% CI: 4.3-9.7 and 3.8-18.5 months, respectively). Patients whose disease progressed despite therapy had a significantly higher baseline VEGF-A level than those who did not progress. VEGF-A level did not drop with continuation of therapy. Patients with high VEGF-A level had a significantly lower PFS but not OS than patients with low levels.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The outcome of metastatic TNBC is poor with FAC chemotherapy regimen. Alternative chemotherapeutic regimens and novel therapeutic approaches including targeting of VEGF and/or its receptors are warranted.
authors: Medical Biochemistry Department, Faculty of Medicine, Cairo University, Egypt.
authors: Fatma M
authors: FM
authors: Taha
authors: Ahmed A
authors: AA
authors: Zeeneldin
authors: Amani M
authors: AM
authors: Helal
authors: Ayman A
authors: AA
authors: Gaber
authors: Yasser A
authors: YA
authors: Sallam
authors: Hanan
authors: H
authors: Ramadan
authors: Manar M
authors: MM
authors: Moneer
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001940:Breast / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D018450:Disease Progression; D004317:Doxorubicin / Q000008:administration & dosage; D004534:Egypt; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D005472:Fluorouracil / Q000008:administration & dosage; D006801:Humans; D053208:Kaplan-Meier Estimate; D008875:Middle Aged; D009362:Neoplasm Metastasis; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D011379:Prognosis; D018719:Erb-b2 Receptor Tyrosine Kinases / Q000378:metabolism; D011960:Receptors, Estrogen / Q000378:metabolism; D011980:Receptors, Progesterone / Q000378:metabolism; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / Q000097:blood*
chemical_list: D004317:Doxorubicin; D005472:Fluorouracil; D018719:Erb-b2 Receptor Tyrosine Kinases; D011960:Receptors, Estrogen; D011980:Receptors, Progesterone; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A