Value of VEGF-C, VEGF-D and VEGFR-3 levels combined with serum TSH in diagnosis of papillary thyroid carcinoma.
- Author:
Jing HUANG
1
;
Yanping LI
;
Gang XUE
;
Wenjing ZHANG
;
Shaoying LI
;
Jing ZHANG
;
Jingfang WU
Author Information
- Publication Type:Journal Article
- MeSH: Carcinoma; blood; diagnosis; Carcinoma, Papillary; Early Detection of Cancer; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; Humans; Lymphatic Metastasis; Thyroid Neoplasms; blood; diagnosis; Thyrotropin; blood; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor C; blood; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor D; blood; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptor-3; blood
- From: Journal of Southern Medical University 2014;34(12):1814-1821
- CountryChina
- Language:Chinese
-
Abstract:
OBJECTIVETo investigate serum vascular endothelial growth factor-C (VEGF-C), VEGF-D and VEGFR-3 levels in patients with papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) and analyze their relation with the clinicopathological and thyroid function of the patients.
METHODSSerum samples and the data of thyroid function were collected from 55 patients with PTC and 24 with benign thyroid tumor (BT). ELISA was used to detect VEGF-C/D and VEGFR-3 concentration in the serum samples and their relation with the thyroid function was analyzed.
RESULTSThe VEGF-C and VEGFR-3 levels were significantly higher in PTC group than in BT group (P<0.05), but VEGF-D level was comparable between them (P>0.05). In PTC patients, the elevation of serum VEGF-C and VEGFR-3 levels was associated with an advanced clinical stage (III-IV), elevated thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) level, an age over 45 years, and a tumor diameter exceeding 2 cm (P<0.05 or P<0.01). Patients with lymph node metastasis had significantly higher VEGF-C level but lower VEGF-3 level than those without metastasis regardless of gender. Serum VEGF-D level was higher in PTC patients with lymph node metastasis (P<0.05) and elevated TSH level (P<0.01) without association with the clinical stage, tumor diameter, age, or gender. The area under ROC curve (AUC) of serum VEGF-C, VEGFR-3 and TSH was 0.803, 0.734 and 0.707 respectively (P<0.01), and that of VEGF-D was 0.556 (P>0.05); when combined, serum VEGF-C, VEGFR-3 and TSH showed an AUC of 0.862 (P<0.01).
CONCLUSIONDetecting serum VEGF-C and VEGFR-3 levels combined with TSH may enhance the early diagnosis rate of papillary thyroid carcinoma.