title: Clinical significance of serum vascular endothelial growth factor, endostatin, and leptin levels in children with lymphoma.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  A number of clinical studies conducted in adults have demonstrated the prognostic significance of angiogenic factors in malignancies, however, only a limited number of studies have been conducted in children. The aim of this study was to determine serum vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), endostatin, and leptin levels in children with lymphoma and to investigate whether these factors provide prognostic information.
  
  
  METHODS
  Serum samples from 36 children with lymphoma (non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) N = 21, Hodgkin lymphoma (HL) N = 15) were collected at diagnosis and during remission. Serum samples were also collected from 18 healthy children as the control group. Serum VEGF and endostatin levels were quantified by using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and serum leptin by immunoradiometric assay.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The serum VEGF levels were found elevated in patients compared to controls (P = 0.033), while endostatin and leptin levels were lower in patients than in controls (endostatin, 43.9 ± 5.8 ng/ml vs. 123.6 ± 13.5 ng/ml, P < 0.001; leptin, 5 ± 1.5 ng/ml vs. 6.7 ± 1.2 ng/ml, P = 0.013). VEGF levels declined (pre, 151.6 ± 55.9 pg/ml vs. post, 16.2 ± 7.9 pg/ml, P = 0.041), while endostatin and leptin levels increased in patients who achieved remission (33 of 36 patients) when compared to pre-treatment levels (endostatin pre, 43.1 ± 5.9 ng/ml vs. post, 65.9 ± 6.8 ng/ml, P = 0.047; leptin, pre, 5.3 ± 1.6 ng/ml vs. post, 9.8 ± 2.7 ng/ml, P = 0.012). Serum VEGF, endostatin, and leptin levels were not predictive of survival.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Serial measurement of serum VEGF, endostatin, and leptin levels could potentially be used to predict response to treatment or progressive disease in children with lymphoma.
authors: Faculty of Medicine, Department of Pediatric Oncology, Gazi University, Ankara, Turkey. fvokur@txccc.org
authors: Fatma Visal
authors: FV
authors: Okur
authors: Ceyda
authors: C
authors: Karadeniz
authors: Munevver
authors: M
authors: Buyukpamukcu
authors: Aynur
authors: A
authors: Oguz
authors: Aysegul
authors: A
authors: Yucel
authors: Peyami
authors: P
authors: Cinaz
authors: Suna
authors: S
authors: Emir
authors: Ali
authors: A
authors: Varan
mesh_terms: D020533:Angiogenesis Inhibitors / Q000097:blood*; D002648:Child; D018572:Disease-Free Survival; D043169:Endostatins / Q000097:blood*; D005260:Female; D006689:Hodgkin Disease / Q000097:blood* / Q000401:mortality; D006801:Humans; D020738:Leptin / Q000097:blood*; D008228:Lymphoma, Non-Hodgkin / Q000097:blood* / Q000401:mortality; D008297:Male; D011379:Prognosis; D015996:Survival Rate; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / Q000097:blood*
chemical_list: D020533:Angiogenesis Inhibitors; D043169:Endostatins; D020738:Leptin; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A