Clinical research of vascular endothelial growth factor expression in patients with malignant tumor

Objective To determine whether vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) could be used as a tumor marker by detecting the VEGF levels in serum and effusion from malignant tumor patients. Methods VEGF concentrations were measured using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay in the serum from the healthy donors and in the serum and the malignant effusion from the patients. Results The serum VEGF levels from the malignant tumor patients was higher than that from the healthy donors, and there was a significant difference ( P 0. 01). Whereas there was no significant correlation between nonmetastatic and metastatic in most of the tumors ( except HCC). In patients with nonmetastatic gastrointestinal carcinoma, there was a correlation between serum VEGF levels and CEA and CA19-9 levels, but no correlation in other tumors. Effusion VEGF level (mean concentration was 229. 2 pg/ml) was higher than serum VEGF level (mean concentration was 62. 2 pg/ml) in 22 lung cancer patients with malignant effusion. In patients with malignant effusions, there was no significant relation between serum VEGF levels and effusion VEGF levels, nor was there a relation between effusion VEGF levels and CEA, CA19-9 and LDH levels in effusion. Serum VEGF levels in lung cancer patients decreased after successful chemotherapy , and increased with tumor relapse. Conclusion (T)The serum VEGF levels from malignant tumor patients is higher than that from the healthy; (2) The VEGF can be used as a nonspecific tumor marker, and has positive correlation with the curative effect.