ABSTRACT
Angiogenesis is a hallmark of wound healing, the menstrual cycle, cancer, and various ischemic and inflammatory diseases. Vascular endothelial growth factor [VEGF] is a potent angiogenic and inflammatory mediator. This study was conducted to investigate serum levels of VEGF in patients with breast cancer and active form hepatitis C virus [HCV]. examine the relationship between VEGF and the onset of angiogenesis in the breast cancer and active form HCV, compare VEGF serum levels in pre-and postmenopausal patients with breast cancer and active form HCV and investigate the levels of Alanine aminotransferase [AST], Aspartate aminotransferase [ALT] in all groups. Serum concentrations of VEGF were measured in groups of breast cancer patients [n=40], patients with active form HCV [n=40], patients with both breast cancer and IICV [n=40] and healthy female controls [n=35]. Also serum concentrations of ALT and AST were measured in all groups. Serum VEGF concentrations were significantly higher in breast cancer patients, patients with active form HCV and patients with both breast cancer and HCV than in controls [P<0.05]. Active form HCV patients had significantly higher serum VEGF concentrations than the breast cancer patients [P<0.05], and no significant difference as compared with breast cancer patients with HCV [P>0.05]. Similarly, there was no significant difference in the serum concentrations of VEGF between pre-and postmenopausal patients [P>0.05]. In addition, there were significant differences in the serum levels of ALT and AST only in both active form HCV patients and breast cancer patients with HCV as compared with the healthy controls [P<0.05]. Elevated VEGF levels as an angiogenesis marker may be associated with breast cancer and active form HCV. Our results also supported the hypothesis that postmenopausal VEGF serum levels did not differ significantly from premenopausal. In addition, there were significant differences in the serum levels of ALT and AST only in both active form HCV patients and breast cancer patients with HCV as compared with the healthy controls