Фактор роста эндотелия сосудов в сыворотке крови больных раком молочной железы

Here we present the results of comparative immunoenzyme assay of the initial serum levels of VEGF in breast cancer patients (stages T 1N 0M 0 and T 2N 0M 0) and apparently healthy women (controls). It was found that VEGF concentrations in the serum of patients with breast cancer stages T 1N 0M 0 and T 2N 0M 0 significantly surpassed the control levels. Increased levels of VEGF surpassing the threshold values were more often observed in patients with T 2N 0M 0 breast cancer compared to patients with T 1N 0M 0 tumor. Serum concentration of VEGF in patients with stages T 1N 0M 0 and T 2N 0M 0 breast cancer did not depend on patient’s age and reproductive function and receptor status of the primary tumor (estrogen and progesterone receptors), but was closely associated with tumor histogenesis and differentiation degree. Significantly higher levels of VEGF were observed in patients with lobular infiltrative breast carcinoma compared to patients with ductal tumors and in patients with low-differentiated tumors compared to highly and moderately differentiated tumors. High initial concentrations of VEGF (≥300 pg/ml) were more often detected in patients with T 2N 0M 0 breast cancer developing relapses within the fi rst 3 years of follow-up compared to patients without relapses during the corresponding period (p=0.001). These findings suggest that serum level of VEGF in patients with T 2N 0M 0 breast cancer before treatment can be used as an additional marker in parallel with standard clinical and morphological signs of the disease for more precise prognosis of early relapse.