Expression of VEGF-C and its receptor VEGFR-3 in the bone marrow of patients with acute myeloid leukaemia

Vascular endothelial growth factor-C (VEGF-C) has been shown to promote survival and resistance to chemotherapy of AML-cells in vitro. We investigated the expression of VEGF-C/VEGFR-3 in the bone marrow and pretherapeutic plasma levels of VEGF-C in patients with newly diagnosed AML. Expression of VEGF-C/VEGFR-3 was significantly higher in AML patients than in controls, while circulating levels did not differ. However, VEGF-C/VEGFR-3 expression was not able to predict clinical outcome. In conclusion, AML is associated with an increased expression of VEGF-C/VEGFR-3. Although expression levels display no prognostic significance in our study, strategies targeting the VEGF-C/VEGFR-3-pathway might be a promising treatment approach.