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Mario Roselli, Tommaso C. Mineo, Stefania Basili, Sabrina Mariotti, Francesca Martini, Annamaria Bellotti, Vincenzo Ambrogi, Antonella Spila, Roberta D'Alessandro, Pier Paolo Gazzaniga, Fiorella Guadagni, Patrizia Ferroni

Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF-A) plasma levels in non-small cell lung cancer: relationship with coagulation and platelet activation markers

Platelet activation, commonly found in lung cancer patients, may cause the release of angiogenic factors, such as vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF-A). The present study was designed to investigate whether plasma VEGF-A levels were associated to different stages of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Moreover, sP-selectin, prothrombin fragment 1+2 (F1+2), thrombin-antithrombin III complex (TATc) and D-dimer levels were measured to test the hypothesis of an involvement of platelet and coagulation activation in tumor angiogenesis. VEGF-A, sP-selectin, F1+2, TATc and D-dimer levels were elevated in 65 patients with NSCLC, particularly in metastatic patients. sP-selectin (p <0.003) and F1+2 (p <0.005) levels were independently associated to VEGF-A. In addition, patients with positive levels of both sP-selectin and F1+2 had the highest levels of VEGF-A. In conclusion, our findings support the hypothesis that thrombin generation might induce platelet activation and VEGF-A release in NSCLC.

Thrombosis and Haemostasis, Schattauer

Print ISSN: 0340-6245
Volume: 89, 01/2003
Pages: 177 - 184

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