INDEPENDENT EXPRESSION OF SERUM VASCULAR ENDOTHELIAL GROWTH-FACTOR (VEGF) AND BASIC FIBROBLAST-GROWTH-FACTOR (BFGF) IN PATIENTS WITH CARCINOMA AND SARCOMA

Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) were quantified in the ser.a of 100 patients with sarcom a, head and neck carcinoma, oesophageal carcinoma, mesothelioma and lu ng carcinoma. VEGF and bFGF levels were generally higher in the sera o f the tumor patients compared to the sera of healthy control subjects. Interestingly, VEGF and bFGF levels were generally not elevated in th e same sera (p < 0,01), and covariation of the VEGF and the bFGF level s was only rarely observed during progressive disease, arguing for act ual independence of factors. Very high levels of VEGF (668 pg/ml, n = 12) were observed in patients with mesothelioma, whereas bFGF levels w ere not increased in these patients. Our data suggest thar VEGF levels increase with tumor progression and may be a useful marker for clinic al monitoring of sarcoma and carcinoma patients.