title: Serum albumin and vascular endothelial growth factor in epithelial ovarian cancer: looking at adnexal tumor drainage.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Gynecologic Oncology Service, National Cancer Institute, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. solbizzo@yahoo.com.br
authors.forename: Solange Maria Diniz
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: 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: Fábio Carvalho de Barros
authors.initials: FC
authors.lastname: Moreira
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 / 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
chemical_list: D000418:Albumins; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A