Levels of elevated circulating endothelial cell decline after tumor resection in patients with pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma.
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.
Sabbaghian
M Shirin
MS
S. A. Localio Laboratory, New York University School of Medicine, New York, NY 10016, USA.
Rothberger
Gary
G
Alongi
Alexandra P
AP
Gagner
Jean-Pierre
JP
Goldberg
Judith D
JD
Rolnitzky
Linda
L
Chiriboga
Luis
L
Hajdu
Cristina H
CH
Zagzag
David
D
Basch
Ross
R
Shamamian
Peter
P
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
C000608036:PGF protein, human; D011257:Pregnancy Proteins; C467484:VEGFA protein, human; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; D000072483:Placenta Growth Factor