title: Combined VEGF-A and VEGFR-2 concentrations in plasma: diagnostic and prognostic implications in patients with advanced NSCLC.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) family of ligands and receptors (VEGFR) play an important role in tumor angiogenesis. Increased expression of angiogenic factors in tumors or in blood is associated with poor prognosis. The aim of this study was to investigate the role of VEGF-A and soluble VEGFR-2 (sVEGFR-2) as biomarkers in advanced non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC).
  
  
  METHODS
  We studied 432 patients with advanced NSCLC (stages IIIB-IV) treated with cisplatin and docetaxel and 89 healthy age-matched controls. Blood samples were collected before chemotherapy, and VEGF-A and sVEGFR-2 levels were determined by ELISA.
  
  
  RESULTS
  VEGF-A and sVEGFR-2 levels were higher in NSCLC patients than in the controls, but VEGF-A behaves as a better diagnostic biomarker. There were no significant associations between VEGF-A and sVEGFR-2 concentrations and clinical characteristics, such as ECOG-PS, gender, stage, histology, metastases, and treatment response. A patient subgroup characterized by a combination of high VEGF-A and low sVEGFR-2 levels exhibited the worst patient prognoses in terms of TTP and OS.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  VEGF-A and sVEGFR-2 levels were significantly higher in patients than in the controls. A combination of VEGF-A and sVEGFR-2 can be used as an independent prognostic biomarker in advanced NSCLC.
authors.affiliation: Molecular Oncology Laboratory, Fundación para la Investigación del Hospital General Universitario, Valencia, Spain.
authors.forename: Eloisa
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Jantus-Lewintre
authors.forename: Elena
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Sanmartín
authors.forename: Rafael
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Sirera
authors.forename: Ana
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Blasco
authors.forename: José Javier
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Sanchez
authors.forename: Miquel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Tarón
authors.forename: Rafael
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Rosell
authors.forename: Carlos
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Camps
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000097:blood; D002289:Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D002945:Cisplatin / Q000008:administration & dosage; D018450:Disease Progression; D000077143:Docetaxel; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D011379:Prognosis; D043823:Taxoids / Q000008:administration & dosage; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / Q000097:blood*; D040301:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptor-2 / Q000097:blood*
chemical_list: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D043823:Taxoids; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; D000077143:Docetaxel; D040301:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptor-2; D002945:Cisplatin