Pretreatment vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) serum levels in patients with metastatic non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).

PURPOSE: In the present study, we investigated the prognostic value of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-9 serum levels in patients with metastatic non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). PATIENTS AND METHODS: From September 1999 to June 2001, pretreatment serum levels of VEGF and MMP-9 were analysed in 194 patients of a randomized phase III trial with enzyme-linked immunoassays.
RESULTS: Patients with a VEGF serum level higher than the median serum level (10,995 pg/ml) had a significantly shorter overall survival than those with a lower serum level (P=0.04). The MMP-9 serum level did not correlate with survival. In a multivariate Cox regression analysis, only the pretreatment serum level of VEGF, the Karnofsky performance status, and the presence of bone metastases were identified as independent prognostic factors.
CONCLUSIONS: The pretreatment VEGF serum level was identified as independent prognostic factor in this study and may help to assess individual risk and treatment profiles in patients with metastatic NSCLC.

RCT Entities:   Population Interventions Outcomes