title: Peritoneal VEGF burden as a predictor of cytoreductive surgery outcome in women with epithelial ovarian cancer.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine whether peripheral plasma concentration, peritoneal fluid concentration, and/or peritoneal vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) burden can predict the possibility of optimal cytoreduction in women with epithelial ovarian carcinoma (EOC); and if so, to determine cutoff values below which optimal cytoreduction is likely to occur.
  
  
  METHODS
  We measured plasma VEGF concentration, peritoneal VEGF concentration, and VEGF burden in 46 women undergoing cytoreductive surgery. Univariate analysis, bivariate analysis, correlation tests, and stepwise regression were performed with cytoreduction as the outcome.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The VEGF burden best predicted the outcome. The area under the curve was 0.84 and the log-transformed cutoff value was 15.52 log pg. Overall, the chance of optimal cytoreduction was 11 times greater when the VEGF burden was less than 15.52 log pg. For women with advanced disease, the chance was 6 times greater below this value.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The VEGF burden may quantify tumor activity, and it could be used when selecting patients likely to benefit from induction chemotherapy before undergoing cytoreductive surgery.
authors.affiliation: Gynecologic Oncology Service of National Cancer Institute, Brazil. solbizzo@yahoo.com.br
authors.forename: Solange Maria
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Diniz Bizzo
authors.forename: Débora Dummer
authors.initials: DD
authors.lastname: Meira
authors.forename: José Marinaldo
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Lima
authors.forename: Jânio da Silva
authors.initials: Jda S
authors.lastname: Mororó
authors.forename: José Cláudio
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Casali-da-Rocha
authors.forename: Maria Helena Faria
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Ornellas
mesh_terms: D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000098:blood supply / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001202:Ascitic Fluid / Q000737:chemistry; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000032:analysis* / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D009389:Neovascularization, Pathologic / Q000473:pathology; D010051:Ovarian Neoplasms / Q000098:blood supply / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D011379:Prognosis; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / Q000032:analysis* / Q000097:blood; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A