Soluble vascular endothelial growth factor receptor-1 (sVEGFR-1) is decreased in lung cancer patients showing progression: a pilot study

Immunohistochemical expression of VEGFR1 in non small cell lung carcinomas: Lower VEGFR1 expression is asociated with squamous cell carcinoma subtype and high SUV max values in 18F-FDG PET

BACKGROUND

To study the possible relation between immunohistochemical expression of vascular endothelial growth factor receptor 1 (VEGFR1) and the maximum standardised uptake value (SUV max) of ¹⁸F-FDG PET in patients with non small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).

MATERIAL AND METHODS

The study included 39 patients with NSCLC (24 squamous cell carcinomas and 15 adenocarcinomas). According to the clinical stage, the patients were distributed as follows: 8 stage I, 7 stage II, 15 stage III and 9 stage IV. Immunohistochemical expression of VEGFR1 was studied through the technique of tissue-matrix using Tissue Arrayer Device (Beecher Instruments, Sun Prairie, WI), using the polyclonal antibody against VEGFR1 (Santa Cruz Biotechnology, California, USA).

RESULTS

Positive VEGFR1 immunohistochemical expression was noted in 23 cases (59%). The number of positive tumours was not related with clinical stage but there was a different statistically significant association (p:0,0009) between VEGFR1 positivity and histological type, corresponding the greater percentages of positive results to adenocarcinomas (93,3%) versus in squamous cell carcinomas (37,5%). Likewise, SUV max values were higher (p: 0,039) in negative VEGFR1 carcinomas than in positive VEGFR1 tumors (r: 4-32,1; 16,4+/-6,4 (median 16,1) vs r: 3-47; 14,5+/-8,6 (12,8)).

CONCLUSIONS

Our results led us to consider that in NSCLC, the negative VEGFR1 immunohistochemical expression is associated significantly with squamous cell carcinomas subtype and with higher SUV max values in ¹⁸F-FDG-PET.

Immunohistochemical expression of VEGFR1 in non small cell lung carcinomas: Lower VEGFR1 expression is asociated with squamous cell carcinoma subtype and high max SUV values in 18F-FDG PET

BACKGROUND

To study the possible relation between immunohistochemical expression of vascular endothelial growth factor receptor 1 (VEGFR1) and the maximum standardised uptake value (maxSUV) of 18F-FDG PET in patients with non small cell lung cancer.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

The study included 39 patients with NSCLC (24 squamous cell carcinomas and 15 adenocarcinomas). According to the clinical stage, the patients were distributed as follows: 8 stage I, 7 stage II, 15 stage III and 9 stage IV. Immunohistochemical expression of VEGFR1 was studied through the technique of tissue-matrix using tissue arrayer device (Beecher Instruments, Sun Prairie, WI), using the polyclonal antibody against VEGFR1 (Santa Cruz Biotechnology, California, USA).

RESULTS

Positive VEGFR1 immunohistochemical expression was noted in 23 cases (59%). The number of positive tumours was not related with clinical stage but there was a different statistically significant association (p:.0009) between VEGFR1 positivity and histological type, corresponding the greater percentages of positive results to adenocarcinomas (93.3%) versus in squamous cell carcinomas (37.5%). Likewise, maxSUV values were higher (p: .039) in negative VEGFR1 carcinomas than in positive VEGFR1 tumors (r: 4-32.1; 16.4+/-6.4 [median 16.1] vs. r: 3-47; 14.5+/-8.6 [12.8]).

CONCLUSIONS

Our results led us to consider that in NSCLC, the negative VEGFR1 immunohistochemical expression is associated significantly with squamous cell carcinomas subtype and with higher maxSUV values in 18F-FDG-PET.

Circulating levels of VEGFR-1 and VEGFR-2 in patients with metastatic melanoma treated with chemoimmunotherapy alone or combined with bevacizumab

There are no identified biomarkers that could predict response to antiangiogenic or traditional chemoimmunotherapy in metastatic melanoma. We hypothesized that soluble angiogenic factor receptors might help us to identify patients responsive to treatment. A series of 48 patients with stage IV melanoma participating in two phase II clinical trials were included. The trials included treatment with carboplatin, vinorelbine, and subcutaneous interleukin-2 (n=22) or treatment with bevacizumab, dacarbazine, and low-dose interferon-α2a (n=26).Serum samples were prospectively collected and soluble vascular endothelial growth factor receptor 1 (s-VEGFR-1) and 2 (s-VEGFR-2) were measured before starting the trial treatment and during response evaluation.There was a trend toward longer overall survival among patients with higher-than-median serum VEGFR-1 levels (21.3 months) compared with 12.3 months in patients with low pretreatment s-VEGFR-1 levels (P=0.146). Pretreatment s-VEGFR-2 levels did not correlate to survival. Serum VEGFR-2 levels decreased during therapy in 44% of the patients and increased in 56% of the patients. VEGFR-2 increased in 78% (14 of 18) of the patients who progressed during therapy (P=0.017). VEGFR-2 decrease was associated with clinical benefit in 65% of the patients (11 of 17) and with progression in only four patients (P=0.016).High pretreatment levels of s-VEGFR-1 are associated with improved prognosis among patients with metastatic melanoma independently on therapy, whereas increased VEGFR-2 levels during therapy are associated with disease progression. These markers might be useful in selecting patients responsive to antiangiogenic therapy.

Circulating markers of angiogenesis, inflammation, and coagulation in patients with glioblastoma

Inflammation, angiogenesis, and coagulation are linked to the development of cancer. In glioblastoma, microvascular proliferation is a hallmark, and lymphocytic infiltration is a common finding. Thromboses are frequent in patients with glioblastoma. The objective of this study was to assess presurgical levels of circulating markers of inflammation, angiogenesis, and coagulation in a prospective series of patients with glioblastoma, and to explore their correlations and possible associations with clinical findings. Angiogenesis markers included were vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), soluble vascular endothelial growth factor-receptor 1 (sVEGFR-1), and thrombospondin-1 (TSP-1). Inflammatory markers included were C-reactive protein (CRP), interleukin-6 (IL-6), tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNFα), and sialic acid (SA). Coagulation markers included were fibrinogen (Fg), endogen thrombin generation (ETG), prothrombin fragments 1 + 2 (F1 + 2), and tissue factor (TF). Forty-seven patients and 60 healthy subjects were included in the study. Signs of tumor necrosis in presurgical MRI were associated with shorter survival (P < 0.01). All inflammation markers, F1 + 2, ETG, VEGF and sVEGFR-1, were significantly elevated in glioblastoma patients. Correlations were found between ETG and Fg (r = 0.44, P < 0.01). Sialic acid correlated with Fg (r = 0.63, P < 0,001); CPR correlated with SA (r = 0.60, P < 0.001), Fg (r = 0.76, P < 0.001), TNFα (r = 0.56, P < 0.001), and IL-6 (r = 0.65, P < 0.001); and IL-6 also correlated positively with TNFα (r = 0.40, P < 0.02) and Fg (r = 0.45, P < 0.01). Vascular endothelial growth factor inversely correlated with sVEGFR-1 (r = -0.35, P < 0.02). No associations were found between marker levels and survival or progression-free survival.