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E. Kainis
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P3.04 - Poster Session/ Biology, Pathology, and Molecular Testing (ID 235)
- Event: WCLC 2015
- Type: Poster
- Track: Biology, Pathology, and Molecular Testing
- Presentations: 1
- Moderators:
- Coordinates: 9/09/2015, 09:30 - 17:00, Exhibit Hall (Hall B+C)
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P3.04-123 - Serum and Pleural Fluid VEGF Levels in Advanced NSCLC (ID 89)
09:30 - 09:30 | Author(s): E. Kainis
- Abstract
Background:
Although most previous studies have suggested that higher pretreatment serum vascular endothelial factor (VEGF) levels may be associated with reduced survival in patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), the independent prognostic value of this biomarker remains largely controversial. The primary aim of this study was to evaluate the prognostic significance of pretreatment serum and pleural fluid VEGF levels in NSCLC patients presenting with malignant pleural effusion (MPE).
Methods:
Forty consecutive newly diagnosed NSCLC patients with MPE at presentation but without distant metastases were prospectively enrolled. Serum and pleural fluid VEGF levels were assayed by enzyme-linked immunoassay (ELISA). ROC curve analysis was used to determine the optimal cut-off value for serum VEGF to discriminate between patients and healthy subjects. Serum and pleural fluid VEGF levels were correlated with standard clinicopathological parameters, including gender, age, smoking history, performance status (PS), histological type of tumor and treatment response. The prognostic value of each variable for overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS) was assessed by Cox regression analysis.
Results:
The median serum VEGF levels were significantly higher in patients as compared to healthy controls (p<0.001), while the optimal cut-off of serum VEGF was 375 pg/ml, with a sensitivity and specificity of 76.9% and 98.0%, respectively. Serum VEGF more than 375 pg/ml, pleural fluid VEGF over the median value and the presence of progressive disease, were all significantly associated with reduced OS and PFS, both in univariate and multivariate analysis (Figures 1 and 2). A statistically significant correlation was also observed between serum and pleural fluid VEGF levels (p<0.001). Figure 1Figure 2
Conclusion:
Our results suggest that increased pretreatment serum and pleural fluid levels of VEGF may be independent predictors of a worse survival in advanced-stage NSCLC patients. Furthermore, pretreatment serum VEGF levels may be useful in discriminating between NSCLC patients and healthy subjects.
