Background: Angiogenesis is essential for solid tumor growth. It is induced by tumor cells through stimulatory angiogenic peptides, one such peptide is vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF).
Purpose: The ultimate aim of the work is to investigate the possible role of VEGF as an early biomolecule involved in the progression of pediatric malignant tumors with high metastatic potential.
Patients and methods: Forty-five pediatric patients were studied. They included four groups with malignant solid tumors suffering from Ewing's sarcoma, osteosarcoma, neuroblastoma and rhabdomyosarcoma. In addition, a healthy control group including fifteen age and sex matched children was included in the study. Serum VEGF levels were determined by ELISA technique.
Results: The level of VEGF was significantly higher in all types of solid tumors compared to normal healthy children. The mean values obtained for patients and controls were 429.44 +/- 258.55 pg/ml and 79.36 +/- 63.81 pg/ml, respectively. No significant difference was detected in the level of VEGF among males and females. Also, no statistically significant difference was detected among the different types of malignant tumors. However, a marked significant difference was elucidated between metastatic and non-metastatic cancer patients, the values recorded were 753.33 +/- 173.64 pg/ml and 267.5 +/- 75.54 pg/ml, respectively (p < 0.001). Furthermore the results showed that 207 pg/ml of serum level of VEGF is the optimal cut-off value (mean +/- 2 SD of control) with sensitivity of 87% and specificity of 100%. Using the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis,the area under the curve (0.917) indicated the validity of using serum VEGF level in the diagnosis of all different types of pediatric malignant solid tumors with high potentiality to metastasis.
Conclusion: VEGF is an angiogenic stimulatory peptide. Its serum level could be a reliable marker in assessing pediatric malignancies with high metastatic potentials.