VEGFR1 expression is related to lymph node metastasis and serum VEGF may be a marker of progression in the follow-up of patients with differentiated thyroid carcinoma

Abstract

ObjectiveVascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and VEGF receptor 1 (VEGFR1) are known to be related to thyroid tumorigenesis. The aim of the study was to examine the expressions and serum levels of VEGF, VEGFR1, IGF1, and IGF1 receptor (IGF1R) in patients with differentiated thyroid carcinoma (DTC) compared with patients with nodular goiter (NG).MethodsWe examined 39 patients with DTC who had a clinical history of at least 2 years and compared them with 25 patients who had a pathological diagnosis of NG after thyroidectomy. Serum VEGF, VEGFR1, and IGF1 levels were measured in both patient groups. The expressions of VEGF, VEGFR1, IGF1, and IGF1R were analyzed by the immunohistochemical method in the paraffin blocks of patients' thyroidectomy samples of the patients.ResultsThe immunostainings scores for VEGF, VEGFR1, IGF1, and IGF1R were found to be higher in patients with DTC than in those with NG. Only VEGFR1 expression was related to lymph node metastasis at the time of surgery. None of the expressions were related to the long-term prognosis of the patients. Serum VEGF was found to be higher in patients with progressive DTC than in patients in clinical remission.ConclusionThe expressions of VEGF and VEGFR1 were shown to be correlated with the expression of IGF1 and IGF1R. VEGFR1 expression may be an important index for the presence of lymph node metastasis at the time of thyroidectomy. Increased serum levels of VEGF may reflect disease recurrence in DTC.

Thyroid volumes and serum VEGF levels in dyslipidemic patients: effects of statin treatment

“…Vascularization is an important feature of tumor growth that might contribute to the growth and progression of thyroid nodules and VEGF is one of the most powerful angiogenesis stimulators (4,29). High expression of VEGF in thyroid cancer was found to be correlated with advanced tumor stage, lymph node metastasis, and increased risk of recurrence (5)(6)(7). Therefore, VEGF inhibitors are approved for the treatment of advanced thyroid cancers (30).…”

“…Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) is a critical regulator of angiogenesis and is involved in tumor development. VEGF expression was found to be associated with lymph node metastasis, advanced tumor stage, and increased recurrence risk in malignant thyroid cancers (5)(6)(7). Research investigating the role of VEGF in benign thyroid disorders yielded controversial results.…”

Vascular endothelial growth factor G+405C polymorphism may contribute to the risk of developing papillary thyroid carcinoma

“…In addition, increased serum VEGF levels in PTC patients returned to normal after therapy . Moreover, serum VEGF may be a marker of progression in the follow‐up of patients with PTC …”

“…The microvascular density in thyroid cancer tissue is increased when compared to normal thyroid tissue . Accumulating data have shown that increased VEGF expression promotes cancer cell growth, subsequent lymph node metastasis, local invasion, and distant metastasis, whereas the inhibition of VEGF signaling results in suppression of the tumor growth . In addition, preoperative serum VEGF levels were shown to be elevated in PTC patients and correlated with different clinicopathological features corresponding to their expected biological effects .…”

“…4 Moreover, serum VEGF may be a marker of progression in the follow-up of patients with PTC. 23 The human VEGF gene is a 14 kb DNA fragment located on chromosome region 6p21. The regulatory region of VEGF gene contains a number of transcription factor-binding sites, and transcriptional regulation of this gene appears to be extremely complex, with levels of control at the transciptional and translational level.…”