Clinical prospects of VEGF signaling system components investigation in blood serum of renal cancer patients

Achievements in the treatment of renal cancer are associated with antiangiogenic therapy. Therefore, exploration of molecular markers characterizing its angiogenic activity are on the agenda. Objective of the study: comparative evaluation of VEGF, VEGFR 1 and VEGFR2 content in blood serum of healthy persons, renal cancer and benign tumor patients, analysis of associations with the main clinical and pathologic features. 99 cancer and 10 benign renal tumor patients comprised the study group. Control group involved 80 persons. Concentration of the proteins studied was measured with direct ELISA kits (Quantikine®, R&D Systems, USA). VEGF, VEGFR 1 and VEGFR2 levels in the sera of renal cancer patients were significantly higher than in control group. Serum VEGF was also higher in renal cancer patients than in those with benign tumors. At 365 pg/m cut-off level VEGF diagnostic sensitivity for primary renal cancer comprised 67 %o, with specificity 70 %. Only serum VEGFR 1 level was positively associated with clinical stage, T and N indices. No associations with tumor histological type or differentiation grade were found. Conclusion: VEGF and its receptors' levels in blood serum have limited diagnostic value in renal cancer, but might be regarded as promising markers for monitoring of antiangiogenic therapy results and prediction of its efficiency.

VEGF, VEGFR1, VEGFR2, renal cancer, vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), VEGFR 1, VEGFR 2, blood serum, diagnostic characteristics

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