Vascular endothelial growth factor in malignant pleural effusion associated with lung cancer

Abstract

The presence of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) was examined by enzyme immunoassay in 60 cytology-documented malignant pleural effusions associated with primary lung cancer and 51 other benign and malignant pleural effusions. Exudative pleural effusions contained significantly higher amounts of VEGF than transudative pleural effusions. Among exudative pleural effusions, levels of VEGF in malignant pleural effusions associated with lung cancer were significantly higher than those of benign exudative pleural effusions. There was no significant difference in pleural VEGF in patients with different histological types or clinical stages of lung cancer. Serial measurement of pleural VEGF levels was performed in six lung cancer patients treated with intrapleural instillation of recombinant interferon gamma, and reduction of pleural effusion was associated with decreasing pleural VEGF levels. These findings suggest that VEGF has a role in the accumulation of exudative pleural effusions, especially that of malignant pleural effusion associated with lung cancer.

Prognostic Values of VEGF and Endostatin with Malignant Pleural Effusions in Patients with Lung Cancer

“…In agreement with previous reports, the current study found that VEGF levels in PE and serum are significantly higher in malignant than in benign effusions. But VEGF was not a good discriminator because of the considerable overlap between the two groups, this was also consistent with former investigations (Yanagawa et al, 1999).…”

“…Elevated levels of VEGF produced by tumor cells, mesothelial cells, and infiltrating immune cells result in increased vascular permeability, cancer cell transmigration, and angiogenesis (Zebrowski et al, 1999;Cao et al, 2013;Dong et al, 2013;Song et al, 2013). Different authors have highlighted the role played by VEGF in the accumulation of exudative PE, especially that of MPE associated with lung cancer (Yanagawa et al, 1999). A few studies (Sack et al, 2005;Zhang et al, 2012;Zhou et al, 2009;Koniari et al, 2011;Yanagawa et al, 1999;Ziora et al, 2002;Fiorelli et al, 2011) have suggested that high VEGF levels in both serum and PE might be considered predictive of malignancy.…”

“…Different authors have highlighted the role played by VEGF in the accumulation of exudative PE, especially that of MPE associated with lung cancer (Yanagawa et al, 1999). A few studies (Sack et al, 2005;Zhang et al, 2012;Zhou et al, 2009;Koniari et al, 2011;Yanagawa et al, 1999;Ziora et al, 2002;Fiorelli et al, 2011) have suggested that high VEGF levels in both serum and PE might be considered predictive of malignancy. In agreement with previous reports, the current study found that VEGF levels in PE and serum are significantly higher in malignant than in benign effusions.…”

“…Endostatin is one of a number of endogenously generated antiangiogenic protein fragments that have been shown to have antitumor activity in murine models (Skovseth et al, 2005). Although serum levels of endostatin have extensively been studied in patients with malignant diseases, only a few studies evaluated endostatin levels in PE (Sumi et al, 2003;Ruiz et al, 2005;Sack et al, 2005;Zhang et al, 2012;Koniari et al, 2011;Hsu et al, 2009;Yanagawa et al, 1999;Ziora et al, 2002;Fiorelli et al, 2011;. Previous studies reported that in comparison with either VEGF or endostatin determination in serum or pleural fluid, the combined detection of two factors improved the diagnostic sensitivity and accuracy (Zhang et al, 2012;Zhou et al, 2009).…”

Bevacizumab in the treatment of non-small-cell lung cancer

“…VEGF is also known as vascular permeability factor, and can induce vascular leakage and may be involved brain edema (Ferrara et al, 2003). Malignant pleural effusions from lung cancer have high levels of VEGF, and VEGF secretion has also been associated with the development of ascites (Senger et al, 1983;Yanagawa et al, 1999;Yano et al, 2000a). The direct role VEGF has in angiogenesis and other malignant processes made it an attractive target for the development of new therapeutic agents.…”