Prognostic value of proangiogenic cytokines in children with lymphomas.

Background: Angiogenesis and proangiogenic cytokines are involved in neoplastic development. The role of these processes in lymphoma formation has not been established. The aim of the study was to assess angiogenesis on the basis of serum levels of vascular-endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) in childhood lymphomas. The prognostic value of these parameters was determined in the examined children.

Procedure: Forty-two children with lymphomas (Hodgkin and non-Hodgkin Lymphomas) were studied (group A). Group A was divided into two subgroups: A(CR)-30 children with complete remission (CR) and A(PR+P+ER)-12 children with partial remission (PR), progressive disease (P), and early relapse (ER). The control group (group C) consisted of healthy 20 children. Using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays we quantified VEGF and bFGF in serum of the healthy children and of the children with lymphomas.

Results: The serum VEGF concentration in group A was 633.4 pg/ml (24.0-1,210.5) and was significantly higher (P = 0.0001) in comparison with group C (144.6 pg/ml; 32.3-734.8). In subgroup A(PR+P+ER), the baseline serum VEGF concentration was 865.0 pg/ml (205.8-1,209.2) and was significantly higher (P = 0.02) than in subgroup A(CR) (564.0 pg/ml; 24.0-1,210.5). The high serum VEGF concentration in children with lymphomas was the only independent risk factor for treatment failure (OR = 8.64; 95 CI: 1.51-49.34; P = 0.01). The cutoff point for the serum VEGF level >or=633.4 pg/ml as a parameter predicting treatment failure was established (P = 0.01).

Conclusion: Baseline serum VEGF concentration constitutes a prognostic marker for the progression of Hodgkin and non-Hodgkin Lymphomas in children.