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Thromb Haemost 2003; 89(01): 177-184
DOI: 10.1055/s-0037-1613557
Cellular Proteolysis and Oncology
Schattauer GmbH

Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF-A) plasma levels in non-small cell lung cancer: relationship with coagulation and platelet activation markers

Mario Roselli
1   Medical Oncology, Department of Surgery, University “Tor Vergata”, Rome, Italy
,
Tommaso C. Mineo
2   Thoracic Surgery, Department of Surgery, University “Tor Vergata”, Rome, Italy
,
Stefania Basili
3   Department of Medical Therapy, University La Sapienza, Rome, Italy
,
Sabrina Mariotti
1   Medical Oncology, Department of Surgery, University “Tor Vergata”, Rome, Italy
,
Francesca Martini
4   Department of Experimental Medicine & Pathology, University La Sapienza, Rome, Italy
,
Annamaria Bellotti
1   Medical Oncology, Department of Surgery, University “Tor Vergata”, Rome, Italy
,
Vincenzo Ambrogi
2   Thoracic Surgery, Department of Surgery, University “Tor Vergata”, Rome, Italy
,
Antonella Spila
5   Laboratory of Clinical Pathology, Regina Elena Cancer Institute, Rome, Italy
,
Roberta D’Alessandro
5   Laboratory of Clinical Pathology, Regina Elena Cancer Institute, Rome, Italy
,
Pier Paolo Gazzaniga
4   Department of Experimental Medicine & Pathology, University La Sapienza, Rome, Italy
,
Fiorella Guadagni
5   Laboratory of Clinical Pathology, Regina Elena Cancer Institute, Rome, Italy
,
Patrizia Ferroni
4   Department of Experimental Medicine & Pathology, University La Sapienza, Rome, Italy
› Author Affiliations
Further Information

Publication History

Received 14 June 2002

Accepted after revision 04 October 2002

Publication Date:
09 December 2017 (online)

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Summary

Platelet activation, commonly found in lung cancer patients, may cause the release of angiogenic factors, such as vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF-A). The present study was designed to investigate whether plasma VEGF-A levels were associated to different stages of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Moreover, sP-selectin, prothrombin fragment 1+2 (F1+2),thrombin-antithrombin III complex (TATc) and D-dimer levels were measured to test the hypothesis of an involvement of platelet and coagulation activation in tumor angiogenesis. VEGF-A, sP-selectin, F1+2, TATc and D-dimer levels were elevated in 65 patients with NSCLC, particularly in metastatic patients. sP-selectin (p <0.003) and F1+2 (p <0.005) levels were independently associated to VEGF-A. In addition, patients with positive levels of both sP-selectin and F1+2 had the highest levels of VEGF-A. In conclusion, our findings support the hypothesis that thrombin generation might induce platelet activation and VEGF-A release in NSCLC.

Keywords

Lung cancer - thrombin generation - soluble P-selectin - angiogene-sis - vascular endothelial growth factor
 

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