Serum levels of angiogenic factors in early breast cancer remain close to normal

The study which we performed was to determine serum concentrations of angiogenic factors including VEGF, angiogenin and TGF-beta 1 in early stage breast cancer patients. These parameters were measured by ELISA in sera of 90 patients with breast cancer and 75 healthy controls. The mean serum VEGF concentration in patients compared to controls was not significantly different (0.33 ng/mL vs 0.43 ng/mL, respectively; p = 0.156). Likewise, the insignificant change in mean values in patients vs controls was also observed for serum TGF-beta 1 (0.19 ng/mL vs 0.19 ng/mL, respectively; p = 0.215) and serum angiogenin (243.24 ng/mL vs 244.5 ng/mL, respectively; p = 0.976). Statistically significant correlation was found only between the tests, Such as VEGF and angiogenin in patients who were included in the study (p < 0.001). In conclusion, we couldn't find any diagnostic value between the early stage breast cancer and the three angiogenic parameters. (C) 2008 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.