title: Prognostic values of VEGF and endostatin with malignant pleural effusions in patients with lung cancer.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Angiogenesis is important in malignant pleural effusion (MPE) formation and it is regulated by a number of pro- and anti-angiogenic cytokines. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the prognostic value of angiogenic factor vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and angiogenesis inhibitor endostatin in lung cancer patients with MPE, and investigate the relationship between these two kinds of agent.
  
  
  METHODS
  Using enzyme-linked immunoadsorbent assay, the concentrations of VEGF and endostatin were measured in pleural effusions (PE) and serum from a total of 70 lung cancer patients with MPE and 20 patients with tuberculosis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Compared to patients with tuberculosis, the levels of VEGF and endostatin in both PE and serum were significantly higher in patients with lung cancer. There were statistically significant correlations between VEGF levels in PE and serum (r=0.696, <0.001), endostatin levels in PE and serum (r=0.310, p=0.022), and VEGF and endostatin levels in PE (r=0.287, p=0.019). Cox multivariate analysis revealed that elevated pleural VEGF and endostatin levels and serum endostatin level were independent predictors of shorter overall survival.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Both pro- and anti-angiogenic factors are likely contributors to PE formation. Our results suggest that the levels of VEGF and endostatin in PE, together with endostatin in serum, may be potential prognostic parameters for lung cancer patients with MPE.
authors.affiliation: First Department of Respiratory Medicine, Nanjing Chest Hospital, Nanjing, Jiangsu Province, China E-mail : zhyzhy1976@sohu.com.
authors.forename: Yu
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Li-Ke
authors.initials: LK
authors.lastname: Yu
authors.forename: Guo-Jun
authors.initials: GJ
authors.lastname: Lu
authors.forename: Ning
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Xia
authors.forename: Hai-Yan
authors.initials: HY
authors.lastname: Xie
authors.forename: Wei
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Hu
authors.forename: Ke-Ke
authors.initials: KK
authors.lastname: Hao
authors.forename: Chun-Hua
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Xu
authors.forename: Qian
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Qian
mesh_terms: D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000378:metabolism / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology; D000368:Aged; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000378:metabolism*; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000378:metabolism / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology; D043169:Endostatins / Q000378:metabolism*; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D016066:Pleural Effusion, Malignant / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology; D011379:Prognosis; D044967:Serum / Q000737:chemistry*; D055752:Small Cell Lung Carcinoma / Q000378:metabolism / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology; D015996:Survival Rate; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D043169:Endostatins; C467484:VEGFA protein, human; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A