Elevated serum vascular endothelial growth factor and basic fibroblast growth factor levels in patients with thymic epithelial neoplasms

Neovascularization, an essential event for the growth of solid tumors, is r egulated by a number of angiogenic factors, among which vascular endothelia l growth factor (VEGF) and basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF), are consi dered to exert potent angiogenic activity. In this study, we investigated w hether serum VEGF and bFGF levels could be predictors of the development an d extension of thymic epithelial neoplasms. The subjects of this study were 37 patients with thymoma, 6 with thymic carcinoma, and 23 healthy voluntee rs. Serum samples were collected before clinical treatment. Serum VEGF leve ls were significantly (P < 0.05) elevated in the patients with thymic carci noma (1080 +/- 1185 pg/ml) compared with those in the healthy volunteers (4 07 +/- 589 pg/ml). Serum bFGF levels were also significantly (P < 0.05) ele vated in the patients with thymic carcinoma (2740 +/- 631 pg/ml) compared w ith those in the healthy volunteers (1728 +/- 1192 pg/ml). However, the ser um VEGF and bFGF levels did not significantly differ between the patients w ith thymoma and the healthy volunteers. Serum VEGF and bFGF levels did not significantly differ according to the stage and pathological subtype of thy moma. Moreover, there was no correlation between the serum levels of VEGF a nd those of bFGF. Thus, while serum VEGF and bFGF levels may serve as marke rs for thymic epithelial tumors, it is unlikely that circulating VEGF and b FGF could be used as markers for assessing the progression of thymoma tumor s.