Background & objective: Angiogenesis is necessary for the growth and metastasis of malignant tumor and is closely related to vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and nitric oxide (NO). This investigation was aimed to detect the serum levels of VEGF and NO in squamous carcinoma patients and analyze the clinical significance for prognosis evaluation.
Methods: Serum VEGF and NO levels were detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbant assay (ELISA) and spectrophotometry, respectively, and their clinical significance was analyzed.
Results: Serum levels of VEGF and NO in squamous carcinoma patients were significantly higher than that of in normal persons (P < 0.01). There was a positive correlation between serum VEGF, NO levels and tumor pathological phases, histological grades and lymph node metastasis (P < 0.01). There was also a positive correlation between serum VEGF level and serum NO level (P < 0.01).
Conclusion: Serum levels of VEGF and NO in squamous carcinoma patients were significantly correlated to the growth, development and malignant behavior of tumor and thus may serve as the indexes for clinical prognosis evaluation.