Serum endostatin levels are elevated and correlate with serum vascular endothelial growth factor levels in patients with stage IV clear cell renal cancer.

Clear cell renal carcinoma (CCRC) is a highly angiogenic tumor known to secrete vascular endothelial cell growth factor (VEGF). Endostatin is an endogenous antiangiogenic agent with antitumor activity in mice. The purpose of this study was to evaluate serum levels of endostatin in normal subjects and in patients with CCRC and to examine the relationship of these levels to circulating VEGF levels. Fifteen patients (mean age, 48 years) on a clinical protocol for stage IV CCRC at the National Cancer Institute were included in the study. Archived prenephrectomy serum samples were analyzed for endostatin and VEGF concentrations. Endostatin and VEGF levels were compared with those of an age-matched group of volunteer blood donors (n = 18) using a competitive enzyme immunoassay. Data were analyzed using the Mann-Whitney U test and the Spearman rank correlation. Median serum endostatin levels were 24.6 ng/ml (range, 15.1-54.0 ng/ml) in CCRC patients versus 14.1 ng/ml (range, 1.0-19.3 ng/ml) in healthy controls (P < 0.0001). Median VEGF levels were 3.4 ng/ml (range, 0.1-11.2 ng/ml) and 2.5 ng/ml (range, 0.1-4.2 ng/ml), respectively (P = 0.065). A highly significant correlation was observed between endostatin and VEGF levels among the CCRC patients (r = 0.81, P = 0.0003) but not among controls (r = -0.22, P = 0.37). Endostatin levels are detectable in serum from healthy subjects as well as from CCRC patients. Levels are significantly elevated and correlate with VEGF levels in CCRC patients. Elucidating the nature of this correlation may lend insight into the regulation of tumor angiogenesis in patients with renal cancer.     

Serum endostatin predicts tumor vascularity in hepatocellular carcinoma

BACKGROUND: Tumor angiogenesis is a strong prognostic factor in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). However, to the authors' knowledge, details regarding the serum levels of proangiogenic and antiangiogenic growth factors controlling this process are not yet known. METHODS: Serum endostatin, vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), and basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) levels were measured by the enzyme immunoassay method in prospectively collected samples from 33 HCC patients who had received no preoperative therapy. The angiogenic score (AS) and endostatin localization were evaluated using immunohistochemistry. RESULTS: Significant decreases in serum endostatin (P = 0.0007) and bFGF (P = 0.0004) were observed in postoperative samples compared with the preoperative values. A very strong direct correlation was noted between VEGF and endostatin (P < 0.0001). Only the preoperative serum endostatin was found to have a significant (P = 0.0025) inverse correlation with the AS. Furthermore, the combined positivity for bFGF and VEGF and negativity for endostatin was found to have a significantly (P = 0.0069) positive correlation with AS. Significantly high levels of endostatin were noted in patients with trabecular-type tumors (P = 0.0446) and in patients with hepatitis B infection (P = 0.0183). The serum endostatin level was found to be significantly (P = 0.0166) higher in living patients and patients with high serum endostatin levels had a tendency (P = 0.0871) toward long survival. Tissue endostatin expression was found to have a direct correlation with the serum endostatin level (P = 0.0117). CONCLUSIONS: The measurement of serum endostatin can predict tumor vascularity and may serve as a promising tool in the antiangiogenic therapy for patients with HCC.     

Serum endostatin levels are elevated in patients with soft tissue sarcoma

BACKGROUND: Solid tumors are angiogenesis dependent, and elevated levels of proangiogenic cytokines have been reported in a variety of histologies. Endostatin is an antiangiogenic fragment of the basement membrane protein, collagen XVIII. Because antiangiogenic protein fragments may be generated by tumor-derived proteases, the authors sought to determine whether circulating levels of endostatin were elevated in patients with localized soft tissue sarcoma. METHODS: The authors analyzed preoperative serum levels of endostatin, vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), and basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) in 25 patients (14 males and 11 females; mean age, 44 years) with soft tissue sarcoma. For each serum sample, two aliquots were assayed in duplicate using a competitive enzyme immunoassay. Serum levels were compared with levels from 34 age-matched and gender-matched volunteer blood donors. RESULTS: Endostatin levels were significantly higher in sera from sarcoma patients than in sera from healthy controls (43.0 ng/mL vs. 25.8 ng/mL, respectively; P = 0.0002; Mann-Whitney U test). Significant elevations also were noted in VEGF and bFGF levels (P = 0.0002 and P = 0.0001, respectively). Furthermore, endostatin levels > 2 standard deviations above the control mean (55 ng/mL) were associated with an increased risk of tumor recurrence after resection (P = 0.047; log-rank test). CONCLUSIONS: Serum endostatin, VEGF, and bFGF levels are elevated in patients with soft tissue sarcoma. Elevated endostatin levels appear to be associated with tumor aggressiveness. The role of these cytokines in sarcoma angiogenesis and as potential targets for therapy warrants further study.     

血清VEGF和Endostatin水平与消化系肿瘤临床病理特征的关系

目的〖HT5"SS〗： 探讨消化道肿瘤患者手术前后血清血管内皮生长因子（vascular endothelial growth factor,VEGF）和Endostatin的动态变化规律及其与临床病理特征的关系。〖HT5W〗方法〖HT5"SS〗： ELISA法检测胃癌、肝癌、结直肠癌患者术前及术后2周血清VEGF和Endostatin水平,并分别以慢性胃炎、慢性乙型肝炎、结肠腺瘤患者和健康人群作对照。〖HT5W〗结果〖HT5"SS〗： 胃癌、肝癌、结直肠癌患者术前血清VEGF和Endostatin水平分别显著高于慢性胃炎、慢性乙型肝炎、结肠腺瘤患者及健康人群组（P<0.01）;术前血清VEGF、Endostatin水平与细胞分化程度、肿瘤大小、浸润深度、区域淋巴结转移、远处转移及临床分期密切相关(P<0.05),与性别、肿瘤部位等因素无关(P>0.05);术后2周血清VEGF水平较术前均有显著性下降(P<0.01),而血清Endostatin水平较术前升高(P<0.01)。〖HT5W〗结论〖HT5"SS〗： 胃癌、肝癌、结直肠癌患者血清VEGF和Endostatin水平升高,且与肿瘤细胞分化程度、肿瘤大小、浸润深度、区域淋巴结转移、远处转移及临床分期密切相关,它们可推荐作为评价胃癌、肝癌、结直肠癌恶性行为、预测浸润和转移程度的有效指标。     

Prognostic importance of serum vascular endothelial growth factor in relation to platelet and leukocyte counts in human renal cell carcinoma.

It has been shown that both serum vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and also platelet counts are associated with survival in renal cell carcinoma (RCC). It is not known, however, whether VEGF in serum relates to the angiogenic activity of the tumour or is derived from circulating blood components. Therefore, the interrelation between serum VEGF, platelet and leukocyte counts compared with health history, clinicopathological findings and outcome was evaluated in patients with RCC. Blood samples were collected before nephrectomy in 161 patients. Serum VEGF165 was assessed by a quantitative ELISA method. Platelet and leukocyte counts were analysed routinely and obtained from medical records. The variables were compared using univariate and multivariate analysis. There were significant correlations between VEGF levels, and platelet (P < 0.001) and leukocyte counts (P < 0.001). Serum VEGF levels, platelet counts, as well as leukocyte counts correlated significantly to stage and grade. Platelet counts were significantly lower in men with medication (P = 0.042), and decreased with age particularly in women (P = 0.001). Age or medication did not affect VEGF levels or leukocyte counts. Both VEGF and platelets gave significant prognostic information in univariate analysis. Using Cox multivariate analysis, VEGF was the last variable to be excluded. Only stage and grade remained as independent prognostic factors. Both VEGF levels and platelet counts gave prognostic information but VEGF was more reliable as predictor of survival in patients with RCC.     

Serum vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and VEGF-C levels as tumor markers in patients with cervical carcinoma

BACKGROUND: Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and VEGF-C play a crucial role in the regulation of tumor growth and metastasis. The current study examined the significance of serum VEGF and VEGF-C levels in relation to conventional clinicopathologic parameters, response to treatment, and survival in patients with cervical carcinoma. METHODS: Between December 1999 and March 2004, serum VEGF and VEGF-C levels were analyzed in 78 patients with cervical carcinoma undergoing primary treatment (primary surgery [n=40] and radiotherapy [n=38]), as well as in 30 healthy controls. Serum VEGF and VEGF-C levels were assessed by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay before and within 2 weeks after treatment. RESULTS: Serum VEGF and VEGF-C levels were higher in patients with cervical carcinoma than in the healthy control (P=0.0002 and P=0.0007, respectively). Both VEGF and VEGF-C concentrations increased significantly in patients with squamous cell carcinoma (SCC vs. normal control: P<0.0001 and P=0.0001, respectively), but not in adenocarcinoma (vs. normal control: P=0.2982 and P=0.7766, respectively). In an analysis of SCC, the pretherapeutic serum levels of VEGF and VEGF-C correlated significantly with advanced International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics stage and large tumor size, but not with lymph node metastasis. The pretherapeutic serum level of VEGF-C also correlated significantly with disease recurrence or persistence after treatment. Both serum VEGF and VEGF-C levels decreased significantly after treatment. CONCLUSIONS: The serum levels of both VEGF and VEGF-C have potential usefulness as biologic markers of SCC of the uterine cervix.     

Tamoxifen and aromatase inhibitors differentially affect vascular endothelial growth factor and endostatin levels in women with breast cancer.

PURPOSE: Circulating and cellular proangiogenic and antiangiogenic proteins such as vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and endostatin contribute to the local angiogenic balance. We explored the effects of tamoxifen and aromatase inhibitors on concentrations of VEGF and endostatin in plasma, serum, and platelet releasate (induced by platelet activation). EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN: VEGF and endostatin concentrations were measured with a quantitative immunoassay before and after 1 to 5 weeks of treatment in 30 women with breast cancer treated with either tamoxifen (n = 14) or aromatase inhibitors (n = 16). Platelet activation was induced by a thrombin receptor agonist. RESULTS: Tamoxifen therapy resulted in an increase in platelet releasate concentrations of VEGF (P = 0.01) but no change in plasma VEGF. In contrast, aromatase inhibitor therapy did not affect serum, plasma, or platelet releasate VEGF. In univariate analysis, aspirin use attenuated the tamoxifen-associated increase in VEGF in the platelet releasate and decreased serum levels of VEGF (P = 0.03). Aromatase inhibitor therapy resulted in a decrease in serum endostatin concentrations (P = 0.04), whereas plasma concentrations of endostatin tended to be higher during treatment with aromatase inhibitors (P = 0.06). Tamoxifen therapy resulted in no change in serum or plasma endostatin concentrations. Platelet releasate concentrations of endostatin did not change with either treatment. Interindividual variability was noted among both aromatase inhibitor--and tamoxifen-treated patients. CONCLUSIONS: Tamoxifen and aromatase inhibitor therapy affect VEGF and endostatin levels and likely contribute to the angiogenic balance in breast cancer patients. Aspirin decreased the proangiogenic effects of tamoxifen, suggesting that antiplatelet and/or antiangiogenic therapy might improve the effectiveness of tamoxifen in women with breast cancer.     

Elevated serum endostatin is associated with poor outcome in patients with non-Hodgkin lymphoma

BACKGROUND: Endostatin is a cleaved fragment of collagen Type XVIII and has antiangiogenic activity. The clinical significance of circulating, soluble endostatin (S-endostatin) is not known. METHODS: Pretreatment S-endostatin and serum vascular endothelial growth factor (S-VEGF) levels were measured in 143 patients with non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) using competitive enzyme immunoassays and were compared with the levels from a control group (n = 24 participants). RESULTS: S-endostatin levels varied widely from 4.5 ng/mL to 116 ng/mL (median, 29.6 ng/mL), and the median level was higher in patients with NHL compared with patients in the control group (16.4 ng/mL; P = 0.05). High S-endostatin levels were associated with advanced disease stage (P < 0.0001) and high serum VEGF levels at diagnosis (P = 0.017). The median 5-year survival rate for patients who had S-endostatin concentrations within the highest tertile (> 36.0 ng/mL) was only 34% compared with 57% in patients who had lower S-endostatin levels (P = 0.019). A high S-endostatin level also was associated with a poor outcome in patients with large cell diffuse and immunoblastic lymphoma, which was the largest subgroup within the series (n = 60 patients). Patients who had high pretreatment levels of both S-VEGF and S-endostatin had particularly poor outcomes. High S-endostatin levels had an independent, adverse influence on survival it was entered as a factor into a multivariate analysis together with the factors included in the International Prognostic Index (relative risk, 1.80; 95% confidence interval, 1.08-2.98; P = 0.0024). CONCLUSIONS: High pretreatment levels of S-endostatin are associated with high serum VEGF levels and poor survival in patients with NHL. Prospective studies are warranted to establish the clinical value of longitudinal S-endostatin measurements.     

Overexpression of collagen XVIII is associated with poor outcome and elevated levels of circulating serum endostatin in non-small cell lung cancer.

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to determine whether collagen XVIII expression is correlated with circulating serum endostatin and whether this has any prognostic value in patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN: Serum endostatin levels were measured quantitatively by a competitive enzyme immunoassay, and collagen XVIII expression in tumor tissue was investigated with an immunohistochemical method in a series of 94 patients who underwent surgery for NSCLC. RESULTS: Sixty cases (63.8%) had positive immunohistochemical staining with anticollagen XVIII polyclonal antibodies, including strongly positive staining in 11 (11.7%) cases. The mean (+/- SD) serum endostatin level was 41.6 +/- 34.4 ng/ml in the patient group and 16.3 +/- 10.3 ng/ml in the control group (P < 0.0001). The 11 cases who were strongly collagen XVIII-positive had significantly higher serum endostatin levels than the cases who were negative or weakly positive (P = 0.0297). The 5-year survival rates of negative, weakly positive, and strongly positive patients were 77.8%, 56.9%, and 43.8%, respectively. The cases with strongly positive collagen XVIII expression had a significantly poorer outcome than cases with negative expression (P = 0.0027). A multivariate analysis with Cox proportional hazards model for disease-specific survival revealed that expression of collagen XVIII (strongly positive versus negative; weakly positive versus negative), tumor classification, and regional lymph node classification were independent prognostic factors. CONCLUSIONS: Our results suggest that expression of collagen XVIII in tumor tissue is strongly associated with a poorer outcome in NSCLC and correlates with elevated levels of circulating serum endostatin.     

Prognostic Values of VEGF and Endostatin with Malignant Pleural Effusions in Patients with Lung Cancer

Aims: Angiogenesis is important in malignant pleural effusion (MPE) formation and it is regulated by anumber of pro- and anti-angiogenic cytokines. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the prognostic valueof angiogenic factor vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and angiogenesis inhibitor endostatin in lungcancer patients with MPE, and investigate the relationship between these two kinds of agent. Methods: Usingenzyme-linked immunoadsorbent assay, the concentrations of VEGF and endostatin were measured in pleuraleffusions (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 weresignificantly higher in patients with lung cancer. There were statistically significant correlations between VEGFlevels in PE and serum (r=0.696, p<0.001), endostatin levels in PE and serum (r=0.310, p=0.022), and VEGF andendostatin levels in PE (r=0.287, p=0.019). Cox multivariate analysis revealed that elevated pleural VEGF andendostatin levels and serum endostatin level were independent predictors of shorter overall survival. Conclusion:Both pro- and anti-angiogenic factors are likely contributors to PE formation. Our results suggest that the levelsof VEGF and endostatin in PE, together with endostatin in serum, may be potential prognostic parameters forlung cancer patients with MPE.     

Pet birds and risk of lung cancer in North-Western Germany

The relationship between non-small cell lung cancer and platelet counts, serum levels of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and endostatin, is unclear. Platelet counts and serum VEGF and endostatin levels were measured preoperatively in 99 patients with non-small cell lung cancer, and the relationship between these factors and clinicopathological features, including prognosis, was examined. Mean serum VEGF level was slightly higher in patients than in healthy subjects (P=0.23). Mean serum endostatin level was 42.4+/-40.4 ng/ml in patients compared to 16.3+/-10.3 ng/ml in healthy subjects (P=0.0003). Serum endostatin levels were significantly higher in patients with involvement greater than T2 or stage IB, compared to other patients. Platelet count and serum endostatin level greater than the median were associated with poor prognosis. Our results suggested that platelet count and serum endostatin level may be useful markers for non-small cell lung cancer.     

Autoantibodies to endostatin in patients with breast cancer: correlation to endostatin levels and clinical outcome

Circulating autoantibodies to self-antigens overexpressed by cancer cells are common in cancer patients. As specific proteins are expressed during neoangiogenesis, a similar phenomenon might occur with particular antigens of tumour vessels. Collagen XVIII, from which endostatin is cleaved, is highly expressed in the perivascular basement membrane of tumour-associated blood vessels and autoantibodies to endostatin have been reported in cancer patients. The present study analyses the incidence of naturally occurring autoantibodies to endostatin in the sera of breast cancer patients and their relation to endostatin serum levels and patient clinical outcome. Serum samples from 36 patients with localised breast cancer and 59 patients with a fully documented history of metastatic breast cancer were used. The immunoreactivity of serum samples was tested against purified recombinant human endostatin and endostatin levels were determined by immunoassay. We could detect anti-endostatin antibodies in the sera of 66% of the patients with localised disease and 42% of the patients with metastatic disease (P=0.03). There was no correlation between the presence of antibodies to endostatin and circulating levels of endostatin. The detection of autoantibodies to endostatin was associated with better prognosis in metastatic breast cancer patients (median survival time: 20 vs 8 months, P = 0.03), as was the presence of low levels of serum endostatin (median survival time: 20 vs 9 months, P = 0.007). These results show that a natural immune reaction against endostatin can occur in breast cancer patients. This could have important therapeutic implications with regard to endostatin therapy and raises the question of a possible role of this humoral reaction against endostatin in the neoplastic process.     

Elevated perioperative serum vascular endothelial growth factor levels in patients with colon carcinoma

BACKGROUND: To the authors' knowledge, little is known to date regarding the prognostic relevance of measuring serum levels of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), a potent stimulator of angiogenesis, in patients with colon carcinoma who undergo surgery. METHODS: Preoperative and postoperative VEGF serum levels were determined by enzyme-linked immunoadsorbent assay in 81 patients with colon carcinoma who were undergoing surgery. Fifty healthy individuals served to define normal VEGF serum levels. RESULTS: Preoperative VEGF serum levels were significantly higher in the group of patients with colon carcinoma (mean, 504.1 pg/mL +/- 223 pg/mL; range, 285-1390 pg/mL; 95% confidence interval [95%CI], 49 pg/mL) compared with the control group (mean, 78.1 pg/mL +/- 22 pg/mL; range, 40-110 pg/mL; 95%CI, 4.3 pg/mL; P < 0.001). Multiple regression analysis demonstrated a significant correlation (r) between preoperative VEGF serum levels and age (r = - 0.275; P = 0.013), Dukes stage (r = 0.488; P < 0.001), and carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) levels (r = 0.285; P < 0.018). No significant correlation was found between preoperative VEGF serum levels and disease site, patient gender, tumor size, tumor grade, or performance status. Moreover, preoperative VEGF serum levels were significantly lower in patients who underwent curative surgery compared with patients who underwent noncurative surgery (443 pg/mL +/- 117 pg/mL vs. 821 +/- 353 pg/mL, respectively; P < 0.0001). Logistic regression analysis selected preoperative VEGF and CEA serum levels as the only good prognostic indicators of curative and noncurative surgery (P < 0.001; relative risk, 2.98 and 2.03, respectively). Furthermore, VEGF serum levels dropped significantly after surgery, with a further downward trend until the 30th postoperative day (P < 0.001). Stepwise regression analysis selected preoperative VEGF serum level as the only variable associated significantly with the prediction of both disease-specific survival and disease-free survival (P = 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Preoperative serum VEGF levels may be useful for predicting outcome in patients with colon carcinoma who undergo surgery.     

TACE联合血管内皮抑制素治疗肝癌的短期疗效及其对患者血清VEGF、MMP-9、OPN的影响

目的:探讨经肝动脉化疗栓塞（TACE）联合血管内皮抑制素治疗肝癌的短期疗效及其对患者血清VEGF、MMP-9、OPN的影响。方法:选取2012年4月-2013年4月我院收治的原发性肝细胞癌（简称肝癌）患者80例,按照随机对照法分为观察组和对照组各40例,其中观察组给予TACE联合重组人血管内皮抑制素（恩度）治疗,对照组采用单纯的TACE治疗,观察两组患者治疗前、治疗后1、3、7、15、30d血清血管内皮生长因子（VEGF）、基质金属蛋白酶9（MMP-9）、骨桥蛋白（OPN）水平的变化,观察两组患者肿瘤新生血管抑制情况、肿瘤控制情况及1年生存率。结果:治疗前两组的血清VEGF、MMP-9、OPN水平比较差异无统计学意义（P＞0.05）;治疗后各时间节点观察组血清VEGF、MMP-9、OPN水平与治疗前比较差异无统计学意义（P＞0.05）;而对照组治疗后各时间节点血清VEGF、MMP-9、OPN水平均较治疗前明显升高,差异具有统计学意义（P＜0.05）;观察组患者新生血管控制率、疾病控制率（DCR）及术后1年生存率均明显优于对照组,差异具有统计学意义（P＜0.05）。两组的不良反应发生率比较差异无统计学意义（P＞0.05）。结论:TACE联合血管内皮抑制素治疗肝癌可以有效抑制肿瘤新生血管的形成,降低肿瘤复发转移的几率,延长患者的生存时间,提高生存率,其作用机制可能与抑制TACE术后血浆VEGF、MMP-9、OPN水平有关。     

Pretreatment serum endostatin as a prognostic indicator in metastatic gastric carcinoma

Endostatin is the C-terminal antiangiogenic fragment of the extracellular matrix protein collagen XVIII, and is generated by tumor-derived proteases. The presence of serum endostatin in patients with gastric cancer has not been reported. The authors assessed the serum levels of endostatin in patients with gastric carcinoma and evaluated their association with the levels of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and the clinical outcome. A total of 107 patients with gastric cancer were included in the study. Pretherapeutic serum levels of endostatin and VEGF were measured using an ELISA, and compared with those in 23 healthy controls. The serum levels of endostatin and VEGF were higher in gastric cancer patients than in healthy controls (endostatin, 70.1 +/- 16.6 vs. 52.2 +/- 6.2 ng/mL [p < 0.001]; VEGF, 55.1 +/- 7.6 vs. 32.1 +/- 2.4 ng/mL [p < 0.001]; mean +/- SD). Serum endostatin levels were significantly associated with the presence of distant metastases (r = 0.556, p < 0.001) and VEGF levels (r = 0.335, p < 0.001), but not with the depth of tumor invasion, differentiation, or regional lymph node status. A serum endostatin level above the 75th percentile of the distribution for the patients (79.2 ng/mL) was associated with a poor outcome (last follow-up at 42 months; median survival time, 9 vs. 20 months [log-rank, p = 0.017]; median time to progression, 5 vs. 10 months [log-rank, p = 0.022]) in the patients with metastatic gastric cancer. The results suggest for the first time that an elevated serum level of endostatin at the diagnosis of metastatic gastric cancer could be predictive of a poor outcome.     

Correlation of plasma and serum vascular endothelial growth factor levels with platelet count in colorectal cancer: clinical evidence of platelet scavenging?

Most studies measuring circulating vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) have sampled serum rather than plasma. There has been much debate whether the collection of sera (which causes the activation of platelets and VEGF release) is a true reflection of tumor angiogenic activity or whether platelets act as scavengers of VEGF. Addressing this issue, we measured serum and plasma VEGF, before and after colorectal resection, with reference to platelet counts. Serum and plasma samples were collected from 116 colorectal cancer (CRC) and 116 control patients. Ninety CRC and 32 benign resections were performed. Both plasma and serum VEGF were significantly higher in CRC patients (18.5 and 327 pg/ml, respectively) compared with controls (9.0 and 151.5 pg/ml, respectively; P < 0.0001). Paired serum and plasma VEGF measurements correlated in both CRC (r = 0.56) and control patients (r = 0.73; P < 0.0001). Serum and plasma VEGF levels correlated with platelet count in CRC patients (r = 0.58 and 0.44, respectively) but not in controls. Plasma and serum VEGF levels, and VEGF concentration per platelet, increased with advancing disease stage. The correlation of serum and plasma VEGF with platelet counts in CRC but not in benign disease may be attributable to the scavenging of VEGF from the tumor source by platelets, with plasma levels reflecting free circulating VEGF in equilibrium with platelet levels. VEGF levels in citrated plasma are low and lie close to the limits of ELISA sensitivity. We recommend that a standardized measurement of serum VEGF--normalized by the patient's platelet count to give a value of serum VEGF per platelet--be adopted.     

Circulating angiogenic factor levels correlate with extent of disease and risk of recurrence in patients with soft tissue sarcoma.

BACKGROUND: Tumor angiogenesis, or new blood vessel formation, is regulated by a balance between pro-angiogenic factors such as vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF), and anti-angiogenic factors such as endostatin. PATIENTS AND METHODS: To investigate this angiogenic balance in soft tissue sarcomas (STS), blood samples were collected from 76 STS patients and 15 healthy controls, and analyzed for VEGF, bFGF and endostatin using quantitative enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISA). RESULTS: Forty-one patients (54%) had primary tumors, 20 (26%) had local recurrences and 15 (20%) had metastatic disease with or without local disease. Levels of all three angiogenic factors were highly variable in STS patients. Mean levels of VEGF and bFGF were 12 and 14 times higher, respectively, in patients compared with controls (P<0.0001). VEGF levels correlated with size of tumor, with the highest levels found in tumors >10 cm in size. Patients with metastases had endostatin levels 45% lower than patients without metastases (P=0.047). In 54 patients who underwent resection of primary disease or local recurrence, low pre-operative bFGF level was associated with a higher risk of subsequent recurrence (P=0.044). CONCLUSIONS: STS secrete widely variable levels of angiogenic factors, and levels of specific factors may correlate with extent of disease, predict risk of recurrence and possibly guide the use of anti-angiogenic agents.     

肝细胞癌介入栓塞前后血管内皮生长因子和内皮抑素的变化与预后的关系

目的 探讨肝细胞癌患者肝动脉化疗栓塞术(TACE)前后血管内皮生长因子(VEGF)和内皮抑素(ES)变化规律与预后的关系.方法 酶联免疫吸附试验(ELISA)法检测患者TACE术前及术后1周血清VEGF和ES水平.结果 肿瘤直径≥5 cm的患者,ES在治疗前后分别为(43.35±9.80)ng/ml、(48.35±10.89)ng/ml;VEGF分别为(310.23±64.31)ng/ml、(369.10±60.11)ng/ml.肿瘤伴有门静脉癌栓的患者ES在治疗前后分别为(54.28±8.78)ng/ml、(50.28±7.51)ng/ml;VEGF分别为(331.26±63.38)ng/ml、(400.29±60.98)ng/ml.VEGF和ES水平与肿瘤大小、门静脉癌栓以及临床分期密切相关(P＜0.05).肝细胞癌患者临床分期越晚,TACE前、后VEGF和ES水平均越高.晚期肝癌患者VEGF/ES比值明显高于早期患者.VEGF/ES比值越低生存时间越长.结论 VEGF、ES、VEGF/ES比值可作为预测肝细胞癌治疗效果的指标.     

乳腺癌组织和血清中内皮细胞抑制素VEGF表达与肿瘤血管生成

目的:研究乳腺癌患者癌组织和血清内皮细胞抑制素(ES)、VEGF表达和肿瘤血管生成间的关系,初步探讨乳腺癌血管生成调节机制.方法:采用免疫组化法检测59例乳腺癌组织ES、VEGF表达及其微血管密度(MVC);分别采用竞争性酶联免疫试验和ELISA测定患者乳腺癌组织和手术前、后血清ES及VEGF水平.结果:1)癌组织ES、VEGF阳性表达率分别为69.5%和59.3%,明显高于癌旁组织(P＜0.005).2)手术前乳腺癌组血清ES和VEGF水平显著增高;手术3周后,血清VEGF水平明显下降,而ES仍保持在较高水平.3)癌组织VEGF表达、组织和血清VEGF水平间具有密切相关性(P＜0.05);癌组织ES表达和血清ES水平间仅有弱的关联(P=0.06).4)癌组织VEGF阳性和阴性组,MVC分别为37.5±10.3和22.8±8.3,有显著性差异(P＜0.001),且血清VEGF浓度与MVC呈正相关(P＜0.0001,r=0.63);癌组织VEGF表达阴性组,血清ES与MVC显示负相关(P=0.03,r=-0.45).结论:VEGF是促进乳腺癌血管生成的直接相关因子,而ES可能是肿瘤及其转移的血管生成负调控因子.     

腹腔镜手术对肾癌患者血清Ang、VEGF及T细胞亚群的影响

目的:探讨腹腔镜手术对肾癌患者血清血管紧张素（Ang）、血管内皮生长因子（VEGF）及T细胞亚群的影响。方法:选取本院手术治疗的90例肾癌患者,其中行后腹腔镜手术者45例为观察组,行常规开放手术治疗者45例为对照组。比较两组手术情况及术后恢复情况,观察两组手术前后血清Ang、VEGF及T细胞亚群水平差异。结果:观察组术中出血量、术后卧床时间及住院时间均显著小于对照组（P<0.05）,而两组手术时间比较,差异无显著性（P>0.05）。观察组术后1 d和术后5 d血清Ang-1、Ang-2、VEGF水平均显著降低,且低于同期对照组,差异具有显著性（P<0.05）。观察组术后1 d和术后5 d患者血CD3+、CD4+及CD4+/CD8+均明显高于对照组,差异具有显著性（P<0.05）。结论:与常规开放手术相比,后腹腔镜手术具有出血少、恢复快等优点,且能够明显降低血清Ang、VEGF水平及减小对机体免疫功能的影响,有利于患者的恢复。