Evaluation of and gene expression as prognostic markers in low and intermediate‑1 risk patients with myelodysplastic syndromes.

Vascular endothelial growth factors (VEGFs) are angiogenic factors playing a key role in tumor development. VEGFs are produced by different normal and tumor cells, including platelets, lymphocytes and mononuclear cells of peripheral blood. ( and ) and ( and ) gene expression was studied in patients with myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) to evaluate the possible prognostic role of the expression of these genes. Gene expression levels were determined using peripheral blood samples of 51 patients with MDS and 15 healthy volunteers by quantitative PCR. Expression of all and genes was elevated in patients with MDS compared with healthy volunteers. No association of expression with the hemoglobin content in peripheral blood was found. The analyses of gene expression in patients with MDS stratified by risk groups according to the International Prognostic Scoring System showed progressive augmentation of gene expression from low to high-risk groups and and expression from intermediate-1 to high-risk groups. The statistically significant difference in survival time of patients with high and low levels of expression was revealed. / expression may be important for risk evaluation of patients with MDS.