Mukorera V, Kirberger R M, Mabeta P, Dvir E
Faculty of Veterinary Science, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa.
J Vet Intern Med. 2013 Nov-Dec;27(6):1642-5. doi: 10.1111/jvim.12179. Epub 2013 Sep 6.
Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) is a potent proangiogenic factor associated with tumor development. Spirocerca lupi is a nematode of canids that induces an esophageal nodule that progresses to a sarcoma in 25% of cases. Determination of neoplastic transformation is challenging and usually based on endoscopy-guided biopsies under general anesthesia, an expensive procedure that often yields nondiagnostic, necrotic samples.
Circulatory VEGF concentrations are increased in dogs with neoplastic spirocercosis and can distinguish between dogs with neoplastic and nonneoplastic disease.
A total of 24 client-owned dogs, 9 nonneoplastic, 9 neoplastic, and 6 controls.
Case-control study. Plasma and serum VEGF concentrations at the time of diagnosis were compared with those of healthy controls. Measurement of VEGF was performed using a canine-specific ELISA. Kruskal-Wallis and Dunn's tests were used for statistical analysis with significance set at P < .05.
The median plasma VEGF concentrations of dogs with neoplastic spirocercosis were 629 pg/mL (range, 282-2,366) higher than both the nonneoplastic (<39.5 pg/mL; range, <39.5-716) and control dogs (<39.5 pg/mL; all values, <39.5; P = .0003). The median serum VEGF concentration of the neoplastic dogs was 69 pg/mL (range, <39.5-212) higher than the nonneoplastic (<39.5 pg/mL; range, <39.5-44.13) and control dogs (<39.5 pg/mL; all values, <39.5; P = .001).
Both plasma and serum VEGF concentrations can be used to differentiate nonneoplastic and neoplastic spirocercosis. The role of VEGF in neoplastic transformation of S. lupi-induced nodules and the potential utility of anti-VEGF drugs in spirocercosis-induced sarcoma warrant further investigation.
血管内皮生长因子（VEGF）是一种与肿瘤发展相关的强效促血管生成因子。狼旋尾线虫是犬科动物的一种线虫，可诱发食管结节，在25%的病例中会发展为肉瘤。肿瘤转化的判定具有挑战性，通常基于全身麻醉下的内镜引导活检，这是一种昂贵的检查，且常常得到无法诊断的坏死样本。
患有肿瘤性旋尾线虫病的犬循环VEGF浓度升高，且可区分患有肿瘤性和非肿瘤性疾病的犬。
总共24只客户拥有的犬，9只非肿瘤性犬、9只肿瘤性犬和6只对照犬。
病例对照研究。将诊断时的血浆和血清VEGF浓度与健康对照犬的进行比较。使用犬特异性ELISA法测定VEGF。采用Kruskal-Wallis检验和Dunn检验进行统计分析，显著性设定为P < .05。
患有肿瘤性旋尾线虫病的犬血浆VEGF浓度中位数比非肿瘤性犬（<39.5 pg/mL；范围，<39.5 - 716）和对照犬（<39.5 pg/mL；所有值，<39.5）分别高629 pg/mL（范围，282 - 2366）（P = .0003）。肿瘤性犬血清VEGF浓度中位数比非肿瘤性犬（<39.5 pg/mL；范围，<39.5 - 44.13）和对照犬（<39.5 pg/mL；所有值，<39.5）分别高69 pg/mL（范围，<39.5 - 212）（P = .001）。
血浆和血清VEGF浓度均可用于区分非肿瘤性和肿瘤性旋尾线虫病。VEGF在狼旋尾线虫诱发结节的肿瘤转化中的作用以及抗VEGF药物在旋尾线虫病诱发肉瘤中的潜在效用值得进一步研究。
