title: Serum vascular endothelial growth factor and adiponectin levels in patients with benign and malignant gynecological diseases.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  One of the most specific and critical regulators of angiogenesis is vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), which regulates endothelial proliferation, permeability, and survival. Vascular endothelial growth factor is an angiogenic mediator in tumors and has been implicated in the pathogenesis and progression of cancer. Adipose tissue is a major endocrine and it secretes hormones termed adipokines. These factors are derived from adipocytes and include proteins and metabolites such as adiponectin. Recently, adiponectin was also shown to modulate angiogenesis. This study was designed to determine the serum VEGF and adiponectin levels in patients with benign and malignant gynecological diseases and if there was a correlation between serum VEGF and adiponectin.
  
  
  METHODS
  Serum samples, collected fasting before surgery or intervention, were available for total of 114 female patients recorded between October 2006 and December 2008. Diagnosis of benign and malignant gynaecological diseases was established by biopsy. Serum levels VEGF and adiponectin were using commercially available enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (R&D Systems Inc, Minneapolis, MN), respectively. Statistical analysis was performed by using the SPSS 9.0 software package (SPSS, Inc, Chicago, IL). The correlation between serum VEGF and serum Adiponectin was calculated using the Pearson correlation coefficient. P values of < 0.05 were considered statistically significant.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Our results were analyzed on the basis of 2 different parameters: age and benign and malignant gynecological diseases of the patient. Only for serum VEGF levels was a significant difference observed (P = 0.004) between patients with benign and malignant gynecological diseases. A significantly inverse correlation between serum VEGF and adiponectin levels among patients with benign and malignant gynecological diseases was found. Adiponectin level is not correlated with body mass index.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This is one of the first report on adiponectin in benign and malignant gynecological diseases. Future studies are needed to address the clinical potential role of adiponectin in cancer.
authors.affiliation: Department of Experimental Oncology, Giovanni Paolo II, National Cancer Institute, Bari, Italy. carla_lasalandra@virgilio.it
authors.forename: Carla
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Lasalandra
authors.forename: Maria
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Coviello
authors.forename: Gaetano
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Falco
authors.forename: Rosa
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Divella
authors.forename: Giuseppe
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Trojano
authors.forename: Anna Maria
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Laterza
authors.forename: Carmela
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Quero
authors.forename: Vito
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Pepe
authors.forename: Francesco Alfredo
authors.initials: FA
authors.lastname: Zito
authors.forename: Michele
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Quaranta
mesh_terms: D052242:Adiponectin / Q000097:blood*; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000097:blood*; D005260:Female; D005831:Genital Diseases, Female / Q000097:blood* / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000097:blood* / Q000473:pathology; D011379:Prognosis; D015996:Survival Rate; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / Q000097:blood*
chemical_list: D052242:Adiponectin; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; C467484:VEGFA protein, human; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A