Serum vascular endothelial growth factor as a significant marker of treatment response in Hodgkin disease

• Published in: Journal of clinical oncology Vol. 24; no. 18_suppl; p. 9033
• Main Authors: Weyl Ben Arush, M., Ben Barak, A., Shenzer, P., Maurice, S., Livne, E.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: 20.06.2006
• ISSN: 0732-183X; 1527-7755
• DOI: 10.1200/jco.2006.24.18_suppl.9033

Abstract only 9033 Background: The aim of this pilot study was to determine VEGF serum levels (S-VEGF) at diagnosis and at restaging in children diagnosed with Hodgkin’s disease, and to investigate whether this parameter provides prognostic information for remission after 2 courses of chemotherapy Methods: S-VEGF levels of 9 consecutive pediatric patients (pts) with Hodgkin’s disease were assayed at diagnosis and at restaging. Levels of VEGF were determined using a commercially available ELISA anti-human VEGF immunoassay kit. PET-CT fusion was performed for each child at diagnosis and after 2 courses of chemotherapy in order to assess response to treatment. Results: 8 children went into complete remission or very good partial response after 2 courses of chemotherapy according to the protocol, one child developed tumor progression and respond to second line chemotherapy. At diagnosis average S-VEGF level was 655.7pg/ml (range, 1078.7–29.22 pg/ml) and at restaging decreased to 237.6 pg/ml (range, 0–453 pg/ml). (p=0.0039). One child with Hodgkin’s disease who had a higher level at first restaging and developed progressive disease responded to reinduction therapy and had a significantly lower level at the second restaging. The comparison between the levels of S-VEGF at diagnosis and at restaging showed a significant difference for the pts who responded to treatment with decreased S-VEGF and the pt who developed tumor progression with increased S-VEGF. Conclusions: Changes in S-VEGF levels correlated with response to treatment for most of the children diagnosed with Hodgkin’s disease. This provides a rationale for exploring clinical interest in S-VEGF measurements of a larger group of children with Hodgkin, and using the test for clinical trials of antiangiogenic therapies. No significant financial relationships to disclose.