title: Plasma concentrations of angiogenetic factors and angiogenetic inhibitors in patients with ductal pancreatic neoplasms. A pilot study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The aim of the study was to evaluate the circulating concentrations of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), vascular endothelial growth factor receptor-2 (VEGFR-2), vascular endothelial growth factor-D (VEGF-D) and endostatin in patients with intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasm (IPMN), and in those with ductal adenocarcinomas.
  
  
  METHODS
  Sixty patients (32 males, 28 females, mean age 69.3±11.3 years) were enrolled: 31 (51.7%) had IPMNs and 29 (48.3%) had histologically confirmed pancreatic adenocarcinomas. Thirty blood donors were also studied as controls. In all study subjects, the concentrations of VEGF, VEGF-D, VEGFR-2, and endostatin were determined using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Serum concentrations of VEGF, VEGF-D, and VEGFR-2 were significantly higher in patients with pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma and those with IPMNs compared with healthy subjects, while endostatin was significantly higher only in patients with pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma compared with healthy subjects. Within the group of patients, VEGFR-2 was significantly higher in patients with ductal adenocarcinoma compared to those with IPMNs. The sensitivity and the specificity of VEGFR-2 in differentiating patients with ductal adenocarcinomas from those with IPMN at a cut-off range of 4003-4034 pg/mL was 86.2% and 54.8%, respectively.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  IPMNs have serum VEGFR-2 concentrations different from those in patients with ductal adenocarcinomas. However, serum VEGFR-2 cannot be routinely utilized to differentiate IPMNs from pancreatic ductal adenocarcinomas.
authors.affiliation: Department of Digestive Diseases and Internal Medicine, Sant'Orsola-Malpighi Hospital, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy. raffaele.pezzilli@aosp.bo.it
authors.forename: Raffaele
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Pezzilli
authors.forename: Dario
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Fabbri
authors.forename: Massimiliano M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Corsi
authors.forename: Andrea
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Imbrogno
authors.forename: Alessandra
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Barassi
authors.forename: Antonio M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Morselli-Labate
authors.forename: Giada
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Dogliotti
authors.forename: Riccardo
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Casadei
authors.forename: Roberto
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Corinaldesi
authors.forename: Gianvico
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Melzi d'Eril
mesh_terms: D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000175:diagnosis; D000368:Aged; D021441:Carcinoma, Pancreatic Ductal / Q000097:blood* / Q000175:diagnosis; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D043169:Endostatins / Q000097:blood*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010865:Pilot Projects; D042643:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor D / Q000097:blood*; D040301:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptor-2 / Q000097:blood*
chemical_list: D043169:Endostatins; D042643:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor D; D040301:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptor-2