The associations between serum VEGF, bFGF and endoglin levels with microvessel density and expression of proangiogenic factors in malignant and benign ovarian tumors.
To investigate whether serum levels of VEGF, bFGF and endoglin correlate with tumor VEGF and bFGF expression or microvessel density (MVD) in ovarian cancer.



Forty five patients with epithelial ovarian cancers (EOCs) and 38 patients with benign ovarian tumors (BOTs) were included into the study. Serum levels of VEGF, bFGF and endoglin were assessed using ELISA. The expression of VEGF and bFGF in tumor samples were evaluated using ELISA of supernatants obtained from tumor homogenization. MVD was analyzed using immunohistochemistry with antibodies against CD31, CD34 and CD105.



Serum VEGF levels were significantly higher in EOCs than in BOTs (436.6pg/ml [19.67-2860] vs 295.5pg/ml [123-539], P=0.025). Serum endoglin levels were lowered in the group EOCs when compared to BOTs (33,720g/ml [12,220-73,940] vs 42,390pg/ml [19,380-56,910], P=0.015). There were no differences in bFGF levels between studied groups. EOCs have significantly higher CD105 MVD (25 vessels/mm2 [0-57] vs 6 vessels/mm2 [0-70], P<0.001) and tumor VEGF (405.9pg/mg protein [0-3000] vs 2.225 [0-634.7], P<0.001) expression than BOTs, while, bFGF expression was higher in BOTs than in EOCs (2076pg/mg protein [668.1-8718] vs 847.3pg/mg protein [188.9-8333], P=0.003). In patients with EOCs we have observed negative correlation between serum VEGF concentration and its tissue expression (r Spearman=-0.571, P=0.0261), and serum VEGF concentration correlated positively with CD34-MVD (r Spearman=0.545, P=0.0289). In a multiple regression analysis we have observed only the negative correlation between serum VEGF and CD105-MVD (r=-0.5288, P=0.0427).



Serum VEGF is a useful marker for prediction of ovarian cancer MVD and tumor VEGF expression.
Division of Gynecological Surgery, Poznan University of Medical Sciences, Poland. Electronic address: szuberts@o2.pl.
Sebastian
S
Szubert
Division of Gynecological Surgery, Poznan University of Medical Sciences, Poland.
Rafal
R
Moszynski
Department of Neurochemistry and Neuropathology, Poznan University of Medical Sciences, Poland; Neuroimmunological Unit Polish Academy of Sciences, Poland.
Slawomir
S
Michalak
Department of Histology and Embryology, Poznan University of Medical Sciences, Poland.
Michal
M
Nowicki
Division of Gynecological Surgery, Poznan University of Medical Sciences, Poland.
Stefan
S
Sajdak
Division of Gynecological Surgery, Poznan University of Medical Sciences, Poland; Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Leszno Regional Hospital, Leszno, Poland.
Dariusz
D
Szpurek
D018952:Antigens, CD34 / Q000032:analysis*; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000097:blood*; D000077216:Carcinoma, Ovarian Epithelial; D000071063:Endoglin / Q000097:blood*; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D016222:Fibroblast Growth Factor 2 / Q000097:blood*; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D055806:Microvessels / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000473:pathology; D009375:Neoplasms, Glandular and Epithelial / Q000097:blood* / Q000098:blood supply* / Q000737:chemistry / Q000473:pathology; D009389:Neovascularization, Pathologic; D010051:Ovarian Neoplasms / Q000097:blood* / Q000098:blood supply* / Q000737:chemistry / Q000473:pathology; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / Q000097:blood*
D018952:Antigens, CD34; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; C064206:ENG protein, human; D000071063:Endoglin; C467484:VEGFA protein, human; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; D016222:Fibroblast Growth Factor 2
Angiogenesis; Endoglin; Microvessel density; Ovarian cancer; Ovarian tumor; VEGF; bFGF