title: [Value of VEGF-C, VEGF-D and VEGFR-3 levels combined with serum TSH in diagnosis of papillary thyroid carcinoma].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate serum vascular endothelial growth factor-C (VEGF-C), VEGF-D and VEGFR-3 levels in patients with papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) and analyze their relation with the clinicopathological and thyroid function of the patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  Serum samples and the data of thyroid function were collected from 55 patients with PTC and 24 with benign thyroid tumor (BT). ELISA was used to detect VEGF-C/D and VEGFR-3 concentration in the serum samples and their relation with the thyroid function was analyzed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The VEGF-C and VEGFR-3 levels were significantly higher in PTC group than in BT group (P<0.05), but VEGF-D level was comparable between them (P>0.05). In PTC patients, the elevation of serum VEGF-C and VEGFR-3 levels was associated with an advanced clinical stage (III-IV), elevated thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) level, an age over 45 years, and a tumor diameter exceeding 2 cm (P<0.05 or P<0.01). Patients with lymph node metastasis had significantly higher VEGF-C level but lower VEGF-3 level than those without metastasis regardless of gender. Serum VEGF-D level was higher in PTC patients with lymph node metastasis (P<0.05) and elevated TSH level (P<0.01) without association with the clinical stage, tumor diameter, age, or gender. The area under ROC curve (AUC) of serum VEGF-C, VEGFR-3 and TSH was 0.803, 0.734 and 0.707 respectively (P<0.01), and that of VEGF-D was 0.556 (P>0.05); when combined, serum VEGF-C, VEGFR-3 and TSH showed an AUC of 0.862 (P<0.01).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Detecting serum VEGF-C and VEGFR-3 levels combined with TSH may enhance the early diagnosis rate of papillary thyroid carcinoma.
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Medicine, Class 5, Grade 2010, Hebei North University, Zhangjiakou 075000, China.E-mail: hbbfxyhuangjing@163.com.
authors.forename: Jing
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.forename: Yanping
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Gang
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Xue
authors.forename: Wenjing
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Shaoying
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Jing
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Jingfang
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Wu
mesh_terms: D002277:Carcinoma / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis*; D002291:Carcinoma, Papillary; D055088:Early Detection of Cancer; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D006801:Humans; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis; D000077273:Thyroid Cancer, Papillary; D013964:Thyroid Neoplasms / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis*; D013972:Thyrotropin / Q000097:blood*; D042582:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor C / Q000097:blood*; D042643:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor D / Q000097:blood*; D040321:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptor-3 / Q000097:blood*
chemical_list: D042582:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor C; D042643:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor D; D013972:Thyrotropin; D040321:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptor-3