A. Becker et al., Association between elevated serum VEGF and polarographically measured tumor hypoxia in carcinomas of the head and neck, STRAH ONKOL, 177(4), 2001, pp. 182-188
Purpose: Clinical investigation of a potential relationship between VEGF co
ncentration in serum (sVEGF) and polarographically measured tumor oxygenati
on in patients with squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck (SCCHN).
Patients and Methods: In 56 patients with SCCHN we estimated the classical
tumor parameters, the sVEGF concentration (immunoassay) and the tumor oxyge
nation (EppendorF pO(2) histograph). The platelet count and the tumor volum
e were evaluated simultaneously.
Results: In a unifactorial analysis the total volume (132 cm(3) vs. 38 cm(3
)), the hypoxic subvolume (HSV a total volume multiplied with the relative
frequency of values less than or equal to 5 mm Hg/63 cm(3) vs. 10 cm(3)) an
d the platelet count (380 10(9)/L vs. 271 109/L) were significantly higher
in the patient group with a sVEGF level > 707 pg/ml compared to the group w
ith a sVEGF below this threshold. The multifactorial analysis confirmed sig
nificant effects for the hypoxic subvolume and the platelet count. Regardin
g hypoxic subvolume and sVEGF as continuous parameters a significantly posi
tive correlation was found. This correlation remained somewhat weaker but s
ignificant after inclusion of the platelet count as covariate.
Conclusion: On base of our data a clinical association between elevated sVE
GF and polarographically measured tumor hypoxia could be confirmed. This wa
s possible considering not only the relative grade of hypoxia but also the
absolute amount of hypoxic regions. The VEGF released from platelets during
blood clotting influences the sVEGF level essentially, however, the hypoxi
a effect was not completely deleted. Due to the platelet effect an estimati
on of sVEGF is not able to substitute polarographical measurement of tumor
pO(2). Therefore in an ongoing study we investigate whether VEGF values est
imated in plasma are better correlated with the polarographically measured
tumor pO(2) than serum VEGF levels.