title: [Vascular endothelial growth factor in ovarian cancer patients].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To compare plasma VEGF (vascular endothelial growth factor) levels in ovarian cancer patients, in patients with benign ovarian tumors and healthy women.
  
  
  METHODS
  Prospective study.
  
  
  METHODS
  Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Medical Faculty Charles University, Prague and University Hospital, Hradec Králové. Department of Immunology and Alergology, Medical Faculty Charles University, Prague and University Hospital, Hradec Králové.
  
  
  METHODS
  VEGF was estimated by ELISA (R&D Systems).
  
  
  RESULTS
  We found that plasma VEGF levels were associated with the International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics (FIGO) stage (FIGO I+II, n=8) Med = 425,53 pg/ml (range 142,30-982,40 pg/ml), (FIGO III+IV, n=29) Med = 941,48 pg/ml (range202,10-2857,80 pg/ml) (p=0,03). Patients with primary ovarian cancer (n=37) had a significantly higher plasma VEGF level Med = 829,93 pg/ml (range142,30-2857,80 pg/ml), compared with patients with benign ovarian tumors (n=15) Med = 426,28 pg/ml (range 32,00-922,20 pg/ml) and healthy women (n=21) Med = 283,13 pg/ml (range 80,50-735,20 pg/ml) (p=0,0003). VEGF levels were lower in plasma (n=79) Med = 575,49 pg/ml (range 55,80-2185,00 pg/ml) compared with VEGF levels in ascitic fluid (n=37) Med = 745,74 pg/ml (range 142,30-2185,00 pg/ml) (p=0,04) in ovarian cancer patients.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Plasma VEGF assay before primary treatment and the changes during the other treatment should contribute to better understanding of angiogenesis in ovarian cancer patients. Plasma VEGF correlates with the stage of primary ovarian cancer.
authors.affiliation: porodnická a Gynekologická klinica LF UK a FN, Hradec Králové, prednosta doc. MUDr. J. Tosner, CSc. Sedlakova@seznam.cz
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Sedláková
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Tošner
authors.forename: O
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Kopecký
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Vroblová
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Rezáč
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Skapinec
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Andrýs
mesh_terms: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000097:blood; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D010048:Ovarian Cysts / Q000175:diagnosis; D010051:Ovarian Neoplasms / Q000097:blood* / Q000473:pathology; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / Q000097:blood*
chemical_list: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A