Résumé
Objective To explore the changes and clinical significances of serum vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and endostatin concentrations for early detection of lung cancer in elderly long-term smokers. Methods Serum VEGF and endostatin concentrations were determined in 52 elderly long-term smokers and 20 elderly non-smokers by enzyme linked immunoabsent assay (ELISA) or competitive enzyme immunoassay. The 52 elderly long-term smokers were divided into lung cancer group (n = 32) and non-lung cancer group (n = 20). Results The concentration of serum VEGF was markedly higher in lung cancer group [(15. 7±8. 0) ng/L] than in non-lung cancer group and normal control group (t= 13. 681, t= 9. 372, respectively, both P＜0. 01). And the level of serum VEGF was significantly higher in non-lung cancer group than in normal control group (t=5. 250, P＜0. 05). The level of serum endostatin was significantly higher in elderly long-term smokers with or without lung cancer than in normal control group (t=5. 332, t=3. 700, respectively, P＜0. 01 and P＜0.05). But there was no statistic difference between non-lung cancer group and lung cancer group (t = 0. 814, P＞ 0.05 ). Notably, the endostatin/VEGF ratio was lower in lung cancer group than in non-lung cancer group and normal control group (t= 6. 270, t= 7. 138, respectively, both P＜0.01), while there was no significant difference between non-lung cancer group and normal control group (t= 1. 022, P＞0.05). Conclusions These findings suggest that the periodic detection of serum VEGF and endostatin and endostatin/VEGF ratio, especially endostatin/VEGF ratio, is of clinical importance and can be used as an early diagnostic marker of lung cancer in elderly long-term smokers.