Serum levels of VEGF-C, VEGF-D, and sVEGF-R2 in patients with lung cancer during chemotherapy.

The aim of this study was to assess serum levels of vascular endothelial growth factor C and D (VEGF-C, VEGF-D) and soluble VEGF receptor 2 (sVEGFR-2) in patients with lung cancer during chemotherapy. The study included 80 patients (64 men and 16 women; mean age 61.1) diagnosed histologically with lung cancer. Forty-four (55%) had non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and 36 (45%) had small cell lung cancer (SCLC). Squamous cell carcinoma was established in 56% (25 patients) of all patients with NSCLC, adenocarcinoma in 20% (9 patients), and non-small cell lung cancer in 23% (10 patients). The control group consisted of 20 healthy volunteers. Peripheral blood samples were taken before and after four cycles of chemotherapy. VEGF-C, VEGF-D, and sVEGFR-2 levels were assessed by ELISA method. Serum levels of VEGF-C and VEGF-D were significantly higher in both NSCLC and SCLC groups in comparison with controls. VEGF-C concentration decreased after chemotherapy, whereas VEGF-D concentration was at the same level. No correlation was found between VEGF-C and VEGF-D concentrations and the effect of treatment. Patients with lung cancer and progression after chemotherapy (PD) had the higher concentration of sVEGFR-2 than patients with partial remission (PR). The levels of sVEGFR-2 were lower before and after treatment than in controls. No relation was found between VEGF-C, VEGF-D, and sVEGFR-2 concentrations and the histological type and staging of lung cancer. Summing up, serum concentrations of VEGF-C and VEGF-D were higher in patients with lung cancer both before and after chemotherapy than in healthy controls, whereas sVEGFR-2 concentration was lower than in healthy controls. An increase in concentration of sVEGFR-2 during chemotherapy may suggest progression of the disease. However, it requires further examination.