Abstract:

Objective To explore the role and significance of serum vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).  MethodsSerum VEGF was determined by sandwich enzyme linked immuno-adsorbent assay ( ELISA) in 69 patients with NSCLC and 20 healthy individuals.  Results Serum VEGF level in NSCLC (156.3±17.2)pg/ml was significantly elevated as compared with that in the controls (46.6±19.3)pg/ml(P=0.0000). No correlation was found between serum VEGF and gender, age, tumor size or the first-again treatment (P＞0.05). VEGF in squamous cell carcinoma was significantly higher than that in adenocarcinoma (P=0.029?7), and serum VEGF was significantly higher in patients with distant metastasis than those without (P=0.0000). Serum VEGF level was closely related to the number of peripheral blood leukocytes, neutrophils and platelets（R=0.524，　0.634 and 0.728）. The level of VEGF was significantly elevated before radiotherapy, right after and after radiotherapy in the SD+PD group compared with the CR+PR group.  Conclusion Serum VEGF level is associated with tumor burden, tumor relapse and metastasis, and therapeutic effectiveness in patients with NSCLC.

Key words: Carcinoma, non-smallcell lung； Serum Vascular endothelial growth factor； Radiotherapy