Serum preoperative vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in epithelialovarian cancer: Relationship with prognostic variables and clinical outcome

Substantial experimental and clinical evidence links tumor growth, progress ion and, metastatic potential with neoangiogenesis. This process is modulat ed by several angiogenic growth factors, such as vascular endothelial growt h factor (VEGF). Little data are currently available on serum VEGF levels i n cancer patients. In the present retrospective investigation preoperative serum: VEGF was higher in 53 patients with epithelial ovarian cancer than i n 25 patients with benign ovarian disease as controls (median, range: 229.7 , 23.5-1807.5 pg/ml versus 140.3, 14.7-1038.7 pg/ml, p=0.034). With regard to FIGO stage antigen values were significantly elevated in stage III- IV ( p=0.027) but not in stage I-II ovarian cancer patients when compared to con trols. lit patients with advanced disease preoperative serum VEGE was signi ficantly related to the presence of ascites (p=0.013), but not to common pr ognostic. variables, response to chemotherapy and survival. In conclusion, preoperative serum VEGF assay reflects tumor progression and ascites genera tion in epithelial ovarian cancer, but it seems to have a limited predictiv e and prognostic value. in patients with advanced disease.