Clinical Value of Serum Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor ( VEGF ) in Cervical Cancer Patients.

Moon, H S; Kim, S C

Original Article

Korean Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology 1998;41(1):168-175.
Published online January 1, 2001.

Clinical Value of Serum Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor ( VEGF ) in Cervical Cancer Patients.

Abstract

OBJECTIVES
Angiogenesis takes place during both physiological and pathological processes, such as tumor develoment VEGF is induced by tissue hypoxia and one of angiogenic factors. We investigated the serum VEGF levels in patients with cervical cancer in contrast to those of normal volunteers, patients with benign myoma, and patients with cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN). And we questioned whether the serum VEGF levels are related to tumor volumes. METHODS: We measured the serum VEGF concentrations by ELISA in 34 patients with cervical cancer, as well as 5 normal volunteers, 14 patients with benign myoma and 23 patients with CIN. Especially in 6 patients with cervical cancer, we measured the serum VEGF levels before and after therapy. RESULTS: There is no statisfical differences among the serum VEGF levels in patients with cervical cancer (409.0 +/- 270.7 pg/ml), CIN (354.0 +/- 202.4 pg/ml), and benign myoma (508.3 +/- 387.8 pg/ml) (p > 0.05). Patients undergoing cancer therapy had lower values than those without cancer therapy (p < 0.05) CONCLUSION: Serum VEGF may help in predicting the therapeutic effects of patients with cervical cancer. So we suggest that serum VEGF may be useful as a prognostic factor in cervical cancers.

Key Words: Serum VEGF, Cervical cancer, Angiogenesis