Basic research on angiogenesis in neuroblastomas

恶性肿瘤的生长和转移在很大程度上依赖于血管生成。已知肿瘤细胞产生的血管生成因子可促进肿瘤血管生成。本研究的目的是探讨哪种血管生成因子在神经母细胞瘤（NB）的进展中最重要。操作步骤：采用实时定量逆转录酶/聚合酶链式反应（RT-PCR）检测28例NB肿瘤标本中血管内皮生长因子-A （VEGF-A）、VEGF-C、碱性成纤维细胞生长因子（bFGF）、血小板源性内皮生长因子（PD-ECGF/TP）的相对表达水平。分析这四种血管生成因子的表达与分期、患者年龄、原发部位、MYCN拷贝数和淋巴结转移的关系。结果：VEGF-A高表达与4期疾病（血源性转移）相关。VEGF-A的表达与年龄、原发部位、MYCN拷贝数或淋巴结转移没有关系。VEGF-C、bFGF或PD-ECGF/TP的表达与分期、年龄、原发部位、MYCN拷贝数或淋巴结转移无关。结论：我们的研究结果表明VEGF-A可能与NB的进展有关。VEGF-A可能成为播散性NB抗血管生成治疗的靶点。

The growth and metastasis of malignant tumors is largely dependent on angiogenesis. Angiogenic factors produced by tumor cells are known to promote tumor angiogenesis. The aim of this study is to investigate which angiogenic factor is the most important in the progression of neuroblastoma (NB). Procedure : The relative expression levels of vascular endothelial growth factor -A (VEGF-A), VEGF-C, basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF), and platelet-derived endothelial growth factor (PD-ECGF/TP) were studied in 28 NB tumor specimens by real-time quantitative reverse transcriptase/polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). The relationships between the expression of these four angiogenic factors and stage, patient age, primary site, MYCN copy number, and lymph node metastasis were analyzed. Results: High VEGF-A expression was correlated with stage 4 disease (blood-borne metastasis). No relationship between VEGF-A expression and age, primary site, MYCN copy number, or lymph node metastasis was found. VEGF-C, bFGF, or PD-ECGF/TP expressions showed no correlation with stage, age, primary site, MYCN copy number, or lymph node metastasis. Conclusions : Our findings suggest that VEGF-A may be associated with progression of NB. VEGF-A could be a target for antiangiogenic therapy for disseminated NB.