Concentration of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and transforming growth factor-beta 1 (TGF-beta 1) in the serum of patients with cervical cancer: prediction of response
Hs. Moon et al., Concentration of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and transforming growth factor-beta 1 (TGF-beta 1) in the serum of patients with cervical cancer: prediction of response, INT J GYN C, 10(2), 2000, pp. 151-156
The aim of this study was to determine the value of the measurement of seru
m VEGF and TGF-beta 1 levels in the diagnosis of cervical cancer and to see
whether these levels decrease after treatment for cervical cancer.
We measured serum VEGF and TGF-beta 1 levels through EIA in patients with C
IN (n = 35), and cervical squamous cell cancer (n = 48). We also measured s
erum VEGF, TGF-beta 1, and SCC antigen levels before and after radiotherapy
in 13 cervical squamous cell cancer patients. The sizes of the tumors in t
hose patients were measured by a computer tomography scan or magnetic reson
ance imaging.
The serum VEGF levels were different between CIN and cervical cancer groups
(P < 0.1), and the serum TGF-beta 1 levels in the cervical cancer group we
re lower than those in the other groups (P < 0.05). The serum VEGF levels w
ere significantly related to the serum TGF-beta 1 levels in the cervical ca
ncer patients (P < 0.01). In the cervical cancer patients, the decrease in
the circulating VEGF levels after receiving radiotherapy was related to the
decrease in tumor size (P < 0.01).
While the measurement of serum VEGF level is adjuvant in diagnosing cervica
l cancers, serial serum VEGF level measurements may find a clinical use in
the follow-up of women treated for cervical cancer.