title: Levels of elevated circulating endothelial cell decline after tumor resection in patients with pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate circulating endothelial lineage cells (ELCs) as biomarkers of tumor neovascularization in patients with pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC).
  
  
  METHODS
  ELCs were isolated from the peripheral blood of patients with PDAC (n=14) or controls (n=17) before and after tumor resection/surgery and quantified using flow cytometry. Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and placental growth factor (PlGF) were detected in tumor using immunohistochemistry and in plasma using an ELISA technique.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Circulating ELC levels were increased in patients with PDAC compared to controls. After PDAC resection, ELC levels declined. ELC level increases were associated with cancer recurrence. VEGF and PlGF were identified in cancer cells and exocrine pancreas cells. Only PlGF was detected in tumor-associated inflammatory cells. Plasma levels of PlGF were higher in patients with PDAC compared to controls.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Circulating ELCs are a potential biomarker of PDAC neovascularization, and PlGF may be an important target in treatment of PDAC.
authors.affiliation: S. A. Localio Laboratory, New York University School of Medicine, New York, NY 10016, USA.
authors.forename: M Shirin
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Sabbaghian
authors.forename: Gary
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Rothberger
authors.forename: Alexandra P
authors.initials: AP
authors.lastname: Alongi
authors.forename: Jean-Pierre
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Gagner
authors.forename: Judith D
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Goldberg
authors.forename: Linda
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Rolnitzky
authors.forename: Luis
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Chiriboga
authors.forename: Cristina H
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Hajdu
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Zagzag
authors.forename: Ross
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Basch
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Shamamian
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D021441:Carcinoma, Pancreatic Ductal / Q000097:blood* / Q000098:blood supply* / Q000601:surgery; D042783:Endothelial Cells / Q000473:pathology*; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009389:Neovascularization, Pathologic / Q000097:blood / Q000473:pathology; D010190:Pancreatic Neoplasms / Q000097:blood* / Q000098:blood supply* / Q000601:surgery; D000072483:Placenta Growth Factor; D011257:Pregnancy Proteins / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: C000608036:PGF protein, human; D011257:Pregnancy Proteins; C467484:VEGFA protein, human; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; D000072483:Placenta Growth Factor