TY - JOUR T1 - Prognostic Value of Serum VEGF in Melanoma Patients: a Pilot Study JF - Anticancer Research JO - Anticancer Res SP - 4255 LP - 4258 VL - 24 IS - 6 AU - PAOLO ANTONIO ASCIERTO AU - ENRICO LEONARDI AU - ALESSANDRO OTTAIANO AU - MARIA NAPOLITANO AU - STEFANIA SCALA AU - GIUSEPPE CASTELLO Y1 - 2004/11/01 UR - http://ar.iiarjournals.org/content/24/6/4255.abstract N2 - Background: Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) is involved in angiogenesis. We investigated the association of VEGF serum levels (pre-treatment and follow-up) with outcome in patients with melanoma. Patients and Methods: Serum levels of VEGF in melanoma patients at diagnosis and during follow-up were analysed with enzyme-linked immunoassays. Patients were followed up with physical examination and ultrasound scans of the liver every three months and thorax X-ray annually. The VEGF serum level was evaluated six-monthly. Results: From February 1996 to February 2000, 33 patients were enrolled. Ninety-two serum blood samples were collected. Patients had a median age of 60 years (range 32-82). Twenty patients were males, 13 females. One patient presented with stage IA disease, 2 with stage IB, 11 with stage IIA, 4 with stage IIB, 8 with stage III and 5 with stage IV. Two patients were affected by uveal melanoma. The melanomas were predominantly located at the extremities or trunk (26/33). The median serum level of VEGF at diagnosis was 249 ng/ml (minimum: 9 ng/ml, maximum: 1215 ng/ml). The median survival of all 33 patients was 45.1 months. The median time-to-progression was 36.7 months. Patients with lower or higher serum VEGF values showed no statistically significant differences in survival. In contrast, high serum VEGF values were associated with shorter disease-free survival as compared with lower values (median DFS: 25 vs 60 months, p=0.048 at log-rank test). Conclusion: Our results suggest that serum VEGF could be of prognostic value in melanoma. Copyright© 2004 International Institute of Anticancer Research (Dr. John G. Delinassios), All rights reserved ER -