Serum vascular endothelial growth factor-A (VEGF-A) as a biomarker in squamous cell carcinoma of head and neck patients undergoing chemoradiotherapy.

Vikas Kumar Srivastava,Madan Lal Brahma Bhatt,Namrata Rastogi,Durga Prasad Mishra,Rishi Kumar Gara,Shalini Gupta,Madhu Mati Goel,Mohd Kaleem Ahmed

doi:10.7314/apjcp.2014.15.7.3261

Abstract

To evaluate serum VEGF-A levels in squamous cell carcinoma of head and neck (SCCHN) patients and relationships with response to therapy. Serum VEGF-A levels in patients (n=72) treated with radiotherapy (RT) or radio-chemotherapy (RCT) and controls (n=40) were measured by ELISA. Serum VEGF-A levels of the SCCHN cases were significantly higher (p=0.001) than in healthy controls, and in patients with positive as compared to negative lymph node status (p=0.004). Similarly, patients with advanced stage (Stage III-IV) disease had more greatly elevated levels of serum VEGF-A level than their early stage (Stage I-II) counterparts (p=0.001). In contrast, there was no significant difference (p=0.57) in serum level of VEGF-A in patients with advanced T-stage (T3-4) as compared to early stage (T1-2). Similarly, patients with distant metastasis had no significant (p=0.067) elevation in serum VEGF-A level as compared to non-metastatic disease. However, the non-responder patients had significantly higher serum VEGF-A level as compared to responders (p=0.001). Our results suggest that the serum VEGF-A level may be a useful biomarker for the prediction of response to therapy in SCCHN.

Highlights

Squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck (SCCHN) is the 6th most common malignancy world-wide, arising in the upper aerodigestive tract, encompassing the oral cavity, oropharynx, hypopharynx, pharynx and larynx (Syrigos et al, 2009)
The purpose of this study is to investigate the interrelationship and the predictive significance of serum vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF)-A level as a biological marker along with clinicopathological parameters in patients of squamous cell carcinoma of head and neck (SCCHN) treated by radiotherapy and chemotherapy
It was found that serum VEGF-A level was significantly (p=0.001) elevated in SCCHN patients (316.51±14.16 pg/μL; Mean±SEM) than those of healthy controls (113.33±10.84 pg/μL; Mean±SEM) Figure 1A and Table 2

Summary

Introduction

Squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck (SCCHN) is the 6th most common malignancy world-wide, arising in the upper aerodigestive tract, encompassing the oral cavity, oropharynx, hypopharynx, pharynx and larynx (Syrigos et al, 2009). Treatment failure for SCCHN can be attributed to multiple factors which are difficult to predict for a particular patient. Factors such as age, sex, tumor site, TNM stage, and histological grade may help guide therapy but are not reliable predictors for. To evaluate serum VEGF-A levels in squamous cell carcinoma of head and neck (SCCHN) patients and relationships with response to therapy. Results: Serum VEGF-A levels of the SCCHN cases were significantly higher (p=0.001) than in healthy controls, and in patients with positive as compared to negative lymph node status (p=0.004). Patients with distant metastasis had no significant (p=0.067) elevation in serum VEGF-A level as compared to non-metastatic disease.

Objectives

Methods

Results