Internal medicine journal, cilt.34, sa.6, ss.310-5, 2004 (SCI-Expanded)
Background: Angiogenesis is essential for tumour growth and metastasis. Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) has been suggested as the major angiogenic factor in breast carcinoma. Both insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I) and prolactin are involved in the progression of breast cancer at least partly by stimulating angiogenesis. Aim: The aim of the present study was to investigate the association between serum IGF-I, VEGF and prolactin levels and clinicopathological characteristics of breast carcinoma. Methods: Serum IGF-I, VEGF and prolactin levels were measured in breast cancer patients and controls and these levels were compared with well-known clinicopathological characteristics of breast carcinoma, including tumour size, axillary lymph node and oestrogen/progesterone receptor status, tumour grade and disease stage. Results: Serum prolactin, VEGF and IGF-I levels were found to be similar in breast cancer patients and control subjects (P > 0.05). When the patients were divided into groups according to their tumour size, axillary lymph node status, tumour grade, oestrogen/progesterone receptor status and disease stage, no significant differences in serum prolactin, VEGF and IGF-I levels were found among the groups (P > 0.05). Conclusions: The present study failed to demonstrate an association between serum levels of VEGF, IGF-I and prolactin and well-known clinicopathological characteristics of breast carcinoma.