Clinical Implications of VEGF, TGF-beta1, and IL-1beta in Patients with Advanced Non-small Cell Lung Cancer / Journal of the Korean Cancer Association, 대한암학회지

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF)-A, VEGF165b, interleukin (IL)-1beta, and transforming growth factor (TGF)-beta1 are known to influence tumor angiogenesis. Clinical implications of these cytokines need to be elucidated. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Using clinical data and baseline serum samples of 140 consecutive patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer who received platinum-based combination chemotherapy, we investigated the association among serum cytokine levels, treatment outcomes, as well as leukocyte and platelet counts. RESULTS: The median age of patients was 64 years (range, 26 to 86 years). The male to female ratio was 10436. High TGF-beta1 and IL-1beta levels were associated with shorter progression-free survival, and high VEGF-A and IL-1beta levels were associated with shorter overall survival in the univariate analysis. VEGF165b was not related to the treatment outcomes. Leukocytosis and thrombocytosis were associated with shorter overall survival. The multivariate analysis demonstrated that VEGF-A, IL-1beta, and leukocytosis were significant prognostic factors (p=0.0497, p=0.047, and p<0.001, respectively). Leukocytosis was not associated with recent pneumonia (p=0.937) and correlated with VEGF-A (p<0.001) and TGF-beta1 (p=0.020) levels. CONCLUSION: Serum VEGF-A, TGF-1beta, and IL-1beta levels, in addition to leukocyte and platelet counts, are shown to be associated with clinical outcomes. Leukocyte and platelet counts are correlated with serum VEGF-A and TGF-beta1 levels.