Serum albumin and vascular endothelial growth factor in epithelial ovarian cancer: looking at adnexal tumor drainage.
OBJECTIVE
This study aims to analyze serum albumin levels (SAL) in relation to concentrations of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) from peripheral plasma, infundibular plasma, peritoneal fluids and the peritoneal burden of VEGF of patients with epithelial ovarian cancer.


METHODS
Exploratory analyses of SAL in 39 patients and its relation to mean concentrations of VEGF from the origins are described above. Statistical analyses comprised Student's t test, Mann-Whitney test and Pearson's and Spearman's correlation coefficient.


RESULTS
Both infundibular concentrations of VEGF and the peritoneal burden of VEGF showed significant differences between SAL dichotomized at 3 g/dl. Concentrations of VEGF in peritoneal fluids were not significant in relation to SAL. Peripheral plasma VEGF levels did not show any linear correlation with SAL. Indeed, SAL showed a significant negative linear correlation (p < 0.001) to infundibular plasma as well as the peritoneal burden of VEGF (p = 0.004).


CONCLUSIONS
Infundibular mean concentrations of VEGF may contribute to reduce SAL in advanced staging rather than the peripheral plasma concentrations of this glycoprotein. The peritoneal burden of VEGF may also aid in decreasing levels of serum albumin.
Bizzo
Solange Maria Diniz
SM
Gynecologic Oncology Service, National Cancer Institute, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. solbizzo@yahoo.com.br
Meira
Débora Dummer
DD
Lima
José Marinaldo
JM
Mororó
Jânio da Silva
Jda S
Moreira
Fábio Carvalho de Barros
FC
Casali-da-Rocha
José Cláudio
JC
Ornellas
Maria Helena Faria
MH
D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000097:blood*; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000418:Albumins / Q000378:metabolism*; D001202:Ascitic Fluid / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D010051:Ovarian Neoplasms / Q000097:blood*; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / Q000097:blood*; D055815:Young Adult
D000418:Albumins; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A