title: Circulating endothelial progenitor cells in gynaecological cancer.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To compare the frequency and absolute numbers of circulating endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) in healthy control subjects and patients with gynaecological cancer, and to test the hypothesis that cancer treatment lowers EPC numbers.
  
  
  METHODS
  Patients with cervical or ovarian cancer and healthy control subjects provided peripheral blood samples for the isolation of mononuclear cells. EPCs were identified by quadruple immunofluorescence staining and flow cytometry as CD45(-)/CD34(+)/CD133(+)/vascular endothelial growth factor receptor 2 (VEGFR2)(+) cells.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In total, 28 participants were enrolled. Circulating EPCs were present at higher frequencies (and in greater absolute numbers) in patients with cervical or ovarian cancer (n = 14) than in controls (n = 14). Concurrent chemoradiation therapy or surgery significantly reduced the frequency and number of EPCs in patients with gynaecological cancer, compared with pretreatment levels.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  EPC levels decline throughout cancer treatment; their measurement may therefore be a useful surrogate marker to monitor treatment response.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Korea University Anam Hospital, Korea University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea. yuni105@korea.ac.kr
authors.forename: Yoon Byoung
authors.initials: YB
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Ye Won
authors.initials: YW
authors.lastname: Chung
authors.forename: Hyo Sook
authors.initials: HS
authors.lastname: Bae
authors.forename: Jae Kwan
authors.initials: JK
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Nak Woo
authors.initials: NW
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Kyu Wan
authors.initials: KW
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Jae Yun
authors.initials: JY
authors.lastname: Song
mesh_terms: D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002452:Cell Count; D002465:Cell Movement; D003710:Demography; D042783:Endothelial Cells / Q000473:pathology*; D005260:Female; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D005833:Genital Neoplasms, Female / Q000097:blood* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology* / Q000532:radiotherapy; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D013234:Stem Cells / Q000473:pathology*
keywords: CD133+; CD34+; CD45–; Cervical cancer; VEGFR2+; circulating endothelial progenitor cells; ovarian cancer