Vascular endothelial growth factor in the sera and effusions of patients with malignant and nonmalignant disease

作者：Andrea Kraft, Karin Weindel, Andreas G. Ochs, Christian Marth, J�rg Zmija, Petra B. Schumacher, Clemens Unger, Dieter Marm�, G�nther Gastl · 发表于：Cancer · 年份：1999 · DOI：10.1002/(sici)1097-0142(19990101)85:1<178::aid-cncr25>3.0.co;2-7 · 被引用次数：371 · 研究领域：Angiogenesis and VEGF in Cancer、Lymphatic System and Diseases、Ovarian cancer diagnosis and treatment

BACKGROUND: Clinical data clearly indicate a correlation between tumor neovascularization, aggressiveness of tumor growth, and metastatic spread. One of the key factors capable of stimulating tumor angiogenesis is vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF). Using an immunoassay for VEGF, we assessed the levels of soluble VEGF in the sera and effusions of patients with malignant and nonmalignant disease as well as in the sera of healthy controls. METHODS: Using a sandwich enzyme-linked immunoadsorbent assay, the concentration of VEGF was measured in serum specimens (n=445) and effusions (n=56) collected from a total of 212 patients with various types of cancer, 88 patients with nonmalignant disease, and 145 healthy individuals. RESULTS: Low and rather stable levels of VEGF were detected in the serum of healthy individuals (median, 294 pg/mL; range, 30-1752 pg/mL; 95th percentile, 883 pg/mL). Compared with healthy individuals, serum levels in patients with acute infections were elevated (P=0.03), whereas patients with chronic cirrhosis had lower serum VEGF levels. Among patients with various types of neoplasia, VEGF serum levels in patients with ovarian or gastrointestinal carcinoma were significantly higher than in healthy individuals. Moreover, VEGF concentrations in sera from patients with metastatic disease were higher than in sera from patients with localized tumors. Maximum serum concentrations of VEGF (median, 1022 pg/mL; range, 349-7821 pg/mL) were found in patients with...