Angiogenin, interleukins, and growth-factor levels in serum of patients with ovarian cancer: correlation with angiogenesis.

PURPOSE: Because tumor angiogenesis is critical to the development of ovarian tumors, we devised an experiment to study changes in the serum levels of angiogenin, growth factors, and interleukins, which can act as modulators of angiogenesis, in patients with ovarian cancer during various clinical stages. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Serum levels of angiogenin, growth factors, and interleukins were assayed by the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay in 56 women with ovarian cancer (stages I through IV) and were compared to levels of the same in 12 control subjects. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION: Women with stage I tumors had significantly increased serum levels of beta-fibroblast growth factor, interleukin-8, and interleukin-10. The serum levels of tumor necrosis factor-beta and interleukin-7 were significantly elevated only in stage II disease. Angiogenin and transforming growth factor-beta serum levels were significantly elevated only in stages II and III. Interleukin-2, interleukin-6, tumor necrosis factor-alpha, and granulocyte macrophage-colony stimulating factor serum levels were elevated consistently in stages III through IV; however, serum levels of interleukin-1 alpha and interleukin-1 beta were not altered in any stage of tumor progression in comparison with controls. Progression of ovarian cancer through clinical stages is associated with increased serum levels of angiogenin, cytokines, and growth factors, which possibly act as angiogenic amplifiers.