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VEGF(A protein that promotes angiogenesis and is known to be a prognostic factor in several types of tumour) in lung cancer

VEGF is a key mediator of angiogenesis(The growth of new blood vessels from pre-existing vessels), a process required for the growth and metastasis(The spread of a disease from one organ or part to another non-adjacent organ or part) of all types of solid tumour(An abnormal growth of cells, forming a mass of tissue). The specific importance of this growth factor in lung cancer has been demonstrated in preclinical and clinical studies.

The majority of NSCLC tumours have been found to overexpress VEGF.1

  • In one study, VEGF expression in tumours was found to be significantly higher than that in adjacent normal lung tissue in 100% of patients.2
  • Higher VEGF expression was identified in adenocarcinomas than squamous(Denoting a surface tissue consisting of a single layer of flat scale-like cells) cell carcinomas, a factor suggested to correlate with the higher metastatic(Pertaining to the spread of a disease, usually cancer, from one organ or part to another non-adjacent organ or part) potential of adenocarcinomas.2
  • VEGF expression has been demonstrated to increase as lung cancer progresses, although the clinical significance of this is unknown.3

An association between high VEGF expression and high MVD has been demonstrated in lung cancers.4

  • In the same study, microvessel counts were higher in patients with nodal metastases than those without.4
  • Other studies have demonstrated a link between high microvessel counts and the presence of systemic metastases.5,6

Both VEGF expression and MVD correlate with poor prognosis in lung cancer.

  • Several studies have demonstrated significantly shorter median survival in patients with high VEGF levels and/or high MVD.2,7,8
  • VEGF has been implicated in the pathogenesis(The mechanism by which the disease is caused. The term can also be used to describe the origin and development of the disease and whether it is acute, chronic or recurrent) of malignant pleural effusion(The build up of fluid between the layers of tissue that line the lungs and chest cavity), a factor associated with reduced survival in lung cancer.9

VEGF expression may be induced by the action of the tobacco carcinogen nicotine on cells.10

  • In a preclinical study, mice exposed to a combination of nicotine and the sex hormone(A type of chemical substance secreted within the body that travels within the blood to another location, where it has a regulatory effect) oestradiol had significantly larger tumours with higher MVD and higher VEGF expression than control animals.

References

  1. Stefanou D, Batistatou A, Arkoumani E, et al. Histol Histopathol 2004;19:37–42.
  2. Yuan A, Yu CJ, Chen WJ, et al. Int J Cancer (Pred Oncol) 2000;89:475–83.
  3. Eriksson P, Brattstrom D, Hesselius P, et al. Neoplasma 2006;53:285–90.
  4. Imoto H, Osaki T, Taga S, et al. J Thorac Cardiovasc Surg 1998;115:1007–14.
  5. Macchiarini P, Fontanini G, Hardin MJ, et al. Lancet 1992;340:145–6.
  6. Yamazaki K, Abe S, Takekawa H, et al. Cancer 1994;74:2245–50.
  7. Fontanini G, Lucchi M, Vignati S, et al. J Natl Cancer Inst 1997;89:881–6.
  8. Bremnes RM, Camps C, Sirera R. Lung Cancer 2006;51:143–58.
  9. Yeh HH, Lai WW, Chen HH, Liu HS, Su WC. Oncogene 2006;25:4300–9.
  10. Jarzynka MJ, Guo P, Bar-Joseph I, Hu B, Cheng SY. Int J Oncol 2006;28:337–44.

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