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Serum Vascular Endothelial Growth Factors A, C and D in Human Breast Tumors

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Pathology & Oncology Research

Abstract

Available evidence suggests that vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) a potent regulator of vasculogenesis and tumor angiogenesis may be a predictor of recurrence in breast cancer patients. We sought to determine whether VEGF serum levels (VEGF-A, VEGF-C and VEGF-D) in 377 patients with malignant and benign breast tumors differ and whether there is association between vascular growth factors, clinicopathologic features and prognosis. There was no significant difference in investigated circulating angiogenic markers between patients with malignant and non malignant lesions. We found strong correlation between VEGF-A and VEGF-D and between VEGF- C and VEGF-D. Besides serum VEGF-D levels and estrogen receptor (ER) expressions no other correlations between VEGF and clinicopathologic variables were observed. However, elevated VEGF-A and VEGF-C concentrations were associated with increased number of erythrocytes, leukocytes and platelets. In Cox model values of angiogenic serum markers and recognized prognostic markers in breast cancer, VEGF-C turned out as independent prognostic factor. Our study is the first analysis showing correlation between serum concentrations of three angiogenic factors: VEGF-A, VEGF-C, VEGF-D. Associations between angiogenic cytokines and number of blood cells may be due to release of VEGF from platelets and leucocytes. Prognostic role of VEGF is still uncertain, though VEGF-C has a potential to serve as a prognostic marker.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Oncology, Wroclaw Medical University, pl. Hirszfelda 12, 53-413, Wroclaw, Poland

    Iwona Gisterek, Rafal Matkowski, Aleksandra Lacko, Krzysztof Szewczyk, Urszula Staszek, Jolanta Szelachowska & Jan Kornafel

  2. Department of Clinical Immunology, Wroclaw Medical University, Wroclaw, Poland

    Pawel Sedlaczek & Antonina Harlozinska-Szmyrka

  3. Department of Oncological Surgery, Lower Silesian Oncology Center, Wroclaw, Poland

    Marek Pudelko & Marek Bebenek

  4. Faculty of Mathematics, Informatics, and Mechanics, University of Warsaw, Warsaw, Poland

    Przemyslaw Biecek

  5. Department of Pathomorphology, Wroclaw Medical University, Wroclaw, Poland

    Agnieszka Halon

Authors
  1. Iwona Gisterek
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  2. Rafal Matkowski
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  3. Aleksandra Lacko
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  9. Jolanta Szelachowska
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Rafal Matkowski.

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Gisterek, I., Matkowski, R., Lacko, A. et al. Serum Vascular Endothelial Growth Factors A, C and D in Human Breast Tumors. Pathol. Oncol. Res. 16, 337–344 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12253-009-9211-8

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12253-009-9211-8

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