Expression of angiogenic factors and tumor progression in human neuroblastoma.

PURPOSE

The growth and metastasis of malignant tumors is largely dependent on angiogenesis. Angiogenic factors produced by tumor cells are known to promote tumor angiogenesis. The aim of this study was to investigate which angiogenic factor is the most important in the progression of neuroblastoma (NB).

PROCEDURE

The relative expression levels of vascular endothelial growth factor-A (VEGF-A), VEGF-C, basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF), and platelet-derived endothelial growth factor (PD-ECGF/TP) were studied in 28 NB tumor specimens by real-time quantitative reverse transcriptase/polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). The relationships between the expression of these four angiogenic factors and stage, patient age, primary site, MYCN copy number, and lymph node metastasis were analyzed.

RESULTS

High VEGF-A expression was correlated with stage 4 disease (blood-borne metastasis). No relationship between VEGF-A expression and age, primary site, MYCN copy number, or lymph node metastasis was found. The expression of VEGF-C, bFGF, or PD-ECGF/TP showed no correlation with stage, age, primary site, MYCN copy number, or lymph node metastasis.

CONCLUSIONS

Our findings suggest that VEGF-A, but not VEGF-C, bFGF, or PD-ECGF/TP, may be associated with progression of NB. VEGF-A could be a target for antiangiogenic therapy for disseminated NB.