Basic fibroblast growth factor in mesothelioma pleural effusions: correlation with patient survival and angiogenesis.

Abstract

The expression of angiogenic factors may represent useful markers for diagnosis and prediction of disease outcome. Basic fibroblast growth factor (b-FGF) is a potent angiogenic factor which promotes in vitro growth of endothelial cells and in vivo vessel formation. We investigated the expression of b-FGF in patients affected with malignant and non-malignant pleural diseases and presenting clinically with non-specific signs and symptoms. We also studied the relationships between the expression of b-FGF in patients with malignant pleural mesothelioma (MM) and tumour aggressiveness, assessed as tumour vessel density (TVD), or patient survival. Basic-FGF was measured by immunoassay in the serum and pleural effusions (PE) of 37 patients. Of these, MM was diagnosed in 15/37 patients while the remaining patients had either peripheral lung adenocarcinoma (PLA) or benign inflammatory pleural disease (BPD). The mean b-FGF level measured 8.5+/-6.1 pg/ml in the PE of the malignant group (MM + PLA) and 23.9+/-19.8 in the PE of the non-malignant group (BPD) (p=0.001). The mean b-FGF level was significantly lower in the PE of MM patients (6.9+/-5.2 pg/ml) compared to BPD patients (p=0.004). Linear regression analysis showed a significant inverse correlation (r=-0.59; p=0.041) between b-FGF levels found in MM PE and patient survival. A noteworthy relationship between high serum b-FGF levels and reduced survival was also observed (r=-0.57; p=0.052). Interestingly, both serum (r=0.48; p=0.114) and PE (r=0.26; p=0.413) b-FGF levels in MM patients correlated poorly with TVD. Our data indicate that b-FGF is significantly more expressed in non-malignant compared to malignant PE, this difference being particularly evident between MM and BPD. Our results also suggest that high b-FGF levels correlate with poor MM patient survival through mechanisms which may be independent of b-FGF angiogenic potential.

• Authors: L Strizzi, G Vianale, A Catalano, R Muraro, L Mutti, A Procopio
• Journal: International journal of oncology (Int J Oncol) Vol. 18 Issue 5 Pg. 1093-8 (May 2001) ISSN: 1019-6439 [Print] Greece
• PMID: 11295061 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)

Chemical References

• Biomarkers, Tumor
• Fibroblast Growth Factor 2
• Factor VIII

Topics

• Adult
• Aged
• Aged, 80 and over
• Biomarkers, Tumor (metabolism)
• Cell Division (drug effects)
• Dose-Response Relationship, Drug
• Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay
• Factor VIII (metabolism)
• Female
• Fibroblast Growth Factor 2 (metabolism)
• Humans
• Male
• Mesothelioma (blood supply, metabolism, mortality)
• Microscopy, Electron
• Middle Aged
• Neoplasms, Mesothelial (blood supply, metabolism, mortality)
• Neovascularization, Pathologic (metabolism)
• Pleural Effusion, Malignant (metabolism)
• Pleural Neoplasms (blood supply, metabolism, mortality)
• Survival Rate
• Tumor Cells, Cultured