title: Expression of VEGF, HGF, IL-6, IL-8, MMP-9, Telomerase in Peripheral Blood of Patients with Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study investigated the telomerase expression in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) and the relationship between the serum level of several soluble factors such as vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), hepatocyte growth factor, interleukin (IL)-6, IL-8, and matrix metallopeptidase-9 and the clinicopathological features of patients with head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC).
  
  
  METHODS
  Peripheral blood samples were collected from 50 HNSCC patients and 15 normal controls. The telomerase activity in the PBMCs was measured by Telomere Repeat Amplification Protocols. The serum levels of the soluble factors were analyzed by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The expression of telomerase in the PBMCs of HNSCC patients was significantly correlated with the N and American Joint Committee on Cancer (AJCC) stages. The serum VEGF level was significantly higher in the patients with an advanced T stage, N stage and AJCC stage. Serum VEGF was significantly related with the expression of telomerase in the PBMCs. The telomerase expression and the VEGF expression were shown to be independent factors associated with poor survival.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The telomerase expression in the PBMCs and the serum VEGF level of HNSCC patients were significantly correlated with the N stage, the AJCC stage and the prognosis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Otorhinolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Pusan National University School of Medicine, Medical Research Institute, Pusan National University, Busan, Korea.
authors.forename: Dae-Young
authors.initials: DY
authors.lastname: Hong
authors.forename: Byung-Joo
authors.initials: BJ
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Jin-Choon
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Jin-Sik
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Choi
authors.forename: Soo-Geun
authors.initials: SG
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Jung-Hoon
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Ro