Significance of serum vascular endothelial growth factor, insulin-like growth factor-I levels and nitric oxide activity in breast cancer patients

Coskun U., Gunel N., Sancak B., Gunel U., Onuk E., Bayram O., ...More

BREAST, vol.12, no.2, pp.104-110, 2003 (SCI-Expanded) identifier identifier identifier identifier

  • Publication Type: Article / Article
  • Volume: 12 Issue: 2
  • Publication Date: 2003
  • Doi Number: 10.1016/s0960-9776(02)00214-x
  • Journal Name: BREAST
  • Journal Indexes: Science Citation Index Expanded (SCI-EXPANDED), Scopus
  • Page Numbers: pp.104-110
  • Gazi University Affiliated: Yes

Abstract

Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) is used to evaluate the angiogenic activity in breast carcinoma. Nitric oxide (NO) and insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I) are also implicated in breast tumorigenesis, including angiogenesis. We measured serum VEGF, IGF-I and nitrate+nitrite levels in 38 patients with metastatic and 23 with nonmetastatic breast cancer and in 16 controls. Serum VEGF and IGF-I levels were higher in patients with metastatic disease than in those with nonmetastatic disease or in controls (P<0.001). Serum nitrate+nitrite levels were higher in patients with metastatic and nonmetastatic disease than in controls (P<0.001). Patients with visceral metastasis and local metastasis had higher serum VEGF and nitrate+nitrite levels than patients with bone metastasis (P<0.05). In the metastatic disease group, there was a positive correlation between serum VEGF levels and nitrate+nitrite levels (r=0.436, P<0.05). Within the group with nonmetastatic disease, premenopausal patients had higher serum IGF-I levels than did postmenopausal patients (P<0.001). NO may involve an angiogenic process that is stimulated by VEGF in breast carcinoma. Larger studies are required to clarify these suggestions. (C) 2003 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.