title: Serum vascular endothelial growth factor in dogs with haemangiosarcoma and haematoma.
abstract: Splenic haemangiosarcomas are frequently seen in dogs. Because of their bad prognosis differentiation from other benign splenic lesions are of prognostic importance. However, because haemangiosarcoma is a tumour of the vascular system, it was hypothesised that vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) might play a major role in tumour growth and might thus be increased in the blood of affected dogs. The aim of this study was to investigate the clinical relevance of differences in serum VEGF concentrations between dogs with splenic haemangiosarcomas and those with non-malignant splenic lesions (haematomas) and healthy subjects using a canine ELISA. Serum VEGF levels were significantly higher in dogs with splenic masses compared with healthy dogs, but did not differ significantly between dogs with haemangiosarcomas and haematomas. VEGF has a potential clinical utility as a diagnostic marker for dogs with splenic lesions but may not be useful to differentiate among the various splenic lesions.
authors.affiliation: Tierärztliches Institut, Universität Göttingen, Burckhardtweg 2, Göttingen 37077, Germany. Electronic address: meike.frenz@googlemail.com.
authors.forename: Meike
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Frenz
authors.affiliation: Deutsches Primatenzentrum, Göttingen, Kellnerweg 4, Göttingen 37077, Germany.
authors.forename: Franz-Josef
authors.initials: FJ
authors.lastname: Kaup
authors.affiliation: Tierärztliches Institut, Universität Göttingen, Burckhardtweg 2, Göttingen 37077, Germany.
authors.forename: Stephan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Neumann
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000097:blood*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D004283:Dog Diseases / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis*; D004285:Dogs; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay / Q000662:veterinary; D005260:Female; D006394:Hemangiosarcoma / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000662:veterinary*; D006406:Hematoma / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000662:veterinary*; D008297:Male; D011379:Prognosis; D011446:Prospective Studies; D013158:Splenic Diseases / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000662:veterinary*; D013160:Splenic Neoplasms / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000662:veterinary*; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / Q000097:blood*
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A
keywords: Angiogenesis; Canine ELISA; Dog; Haemangiosarcoma; Spleen; Vascular endothelial growth factor