Level of circulating endothelial progenitor cells and serum vascular endothelial growth factor in patients with renal cell carcinoma / 中国医师进修杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective To measure the level of circulating endothelial progenitor cell (EPC) and serum vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), and to investigate its clinical significance in patients with different stages of renal cell carcinoma (RCC). Methods The level of circulating EPC was quantified by assaying CD45-CD34+VEGFR-R2 +cell phenotype in 45 patients with RCC (RCC group), 30 patients with benign renal tumors(benign renal tumors group) and 30 healthy controls (control group). Serum VEGF was quantified by enzyme- linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The results were compared. Results The level of EPC in RCC groups was (0.265 ± 0.042)%, in benign renal tumors group was(0.053 ± 0.008)% , and in control group was (0.048 ± 0.006)%. The level of EPC in RCC group was significantly higher than that in benign renal tumors group and control group (P<0.05). The level of EPC in Ⅲ- Ⅳ stage patients was significantly higher than that in Ⅰ-Ⅱ stage patients(0.312 ± 0.038)%vs. (0.215 ± 0.021)%, P<0.05. Three months after operation, the level of EPC in 33 RCC patients without pretreatment was (0.078 ± 0.003)% and significantly lower that before treatment (P<0.05). The level of VEGF in RCC groups was (305.5 ± 29.1) ng/L, in benign renal tumors group was (29.8 ± 3.2) ng/L, and in control group was (25.1 ± 2.8) ng/L. The level of VEGF in RCC group was significantly higher than that in benign renal tumors group and control group (P<0.05). The level of VEGF inⅢ-Ⅳstage patients was significantly higher than that inⅠ-Ⅱstage patients(365.6 ± 34.6) ng/L vs. (256.2 ± 23.2) ng/L, P<0.05. Pearson association analysis showed that the level of EPC had positive associations with VEGF (r=0.714, P<0.01). Multiple linear regression showed that the size of kidney neoplasms was a dependent factor for the level of EPC. Conclusions The level of EPC has a positive association with VEGF. EPC maybe a new biomarker for RCC.