Platelets and granulocytes, in particular the neutrophils, form important compartments for circulating vascular endothelial growth factor

The measurement of circulating vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) levels as a prognostic factor will gain increasing relevance in the diagnosis and evaluation of treatment in cancer patients. Angiogenesis is an absolute requirement in tumour growth and metastatic disease. In the present study...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Published in:Angiogenesis (London) 2003, Vol.6 (4), p.283-287
Main Authors: KUSUMANTO, Yoka H, DAM, Wendy A, HOSPERS, Geke A. P, MEIJER, Coby, MULDER, Nanno H
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adult
Anus Neoplasms - blood
Biological and medical sciences
Blood and lymphatic vessels
Blood Platelets - physiology
Breast Neoplasms - blood
Carcinoma - blood
Cardiology. Vascular system
Cell Fractionation
Diseases of the peripheral vessels. Diseases of the vena cava. Miscellaneous
Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay
Flow Cytometry
Granulocytes - physiology
Humans
Leukocytes, Mononuclear - physiology
Medical sciences
Middle Aged
Neoplasm Metastasis
Neutrophils - physiology
Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A - blood
Citations: Items that cite this one
Online Access:Get full text
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
Description
Summary:The measurement of circulating vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) levels as a prognostic factor will gain increasing relevance in the diagnosis and evaluation of treatment in cancer patients. Angiogenesis is an absolute requirement in tumour growth and metastatic disease. In the present study data are presented which indicate that circulating VEGF mainly resides in peripheral blood cells. In 15 healthy volunteers we demonstrated that approximately 34% of the circulating VEGF resides in platelets and approximately 11% in patients with cancer ( n = 4). An important part namely 58% in healthy volunteers and 69% in patients with cancer of the total circulating VEGF is contained in granulocytes, particular in the neutrophils, as confirmed by fluorescence-activated cell sorting (FACS). Also an increased VEGF level per granulocyte is found in patients with cancer (77 microg VEGF/l) compared with the healthy volunteers (164 microg VEGF/l). In contrast only 2% was present in plasma. The biological significance of platelet- or granulocyte-derived VEGF is not yet known. Liberation of VEGF from these compartments could well be of importance for tumour angiogenesis. Therefore, future studies on the clinical value of circulating VEGF as a prognostic factor in cancer patients should include measurements of VEGF in peripheral blood cells.
ISSN:0969-6970
1573-7209
DOI:10.1023/b:agen.0000029415.62384.ba