Correlation of serum vascular endothelial growth factor levels with plasma,serum and P-APR in breast cancer

Abstract

Objective To look for a better way to assay vascular endothelial growth factor(VEGF) and explore the correlation of serum VEGF levels with platelet and leucocyte count in breast cancer by comparison of peripheral blood plasma, serum and P-APR. Methods Blood samples were obtained from 42 patients with breast cancer and 20 healthy volunteers. Serum, plasma and P-APR samples were analyzed for VEGF using a commercially available sandwich ELISA, and assayed for semiquantitative measurement using microplatereader. At the same time, samples were analyzed by hematology analyzer. Results The level of VEGF in peripheral blood positively correlated to platelet (health control group: r=0.424, P=0.063) and leucocyte (health control group: r=0.443, P=0.050). The difference in VEGF values of P-APR between the localized breast cancer group and the health control group was statistically significant. Conclusion The level of VEGF in peripheral blood positively correlates to platelet and leucocyte. Platelet and leucocyte possibly secrete VEGF in vitro. Compared with serum and plasma, P-APR is the best section assaying VEGF in peripheral blood. Key words: Breast neoplasms; Vascular endothelial growth factor; , Blood platelets; Leukocytes