BACKGROUNDTo detect dendritic cells (DC)in the peripheral blood and plasma concentration of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) of patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and to evaluate their relationship.

METHODSThe quantitation of DC in the blood was performed in 55 patients with NSCLC, 13 patients with pulmonary benign diseases, and 12 healthy volunteers by a novel flow cytometric assay. The concentration of VEGF in the plasma was measured by ELISA kit.

RESULTSNo significant difference was found in the levels of DC and VEGF between the patients with pulmonary benign diseases and healthy volunteers (P>0.05). In comparison with subjects of healthy volunteers and pulmonary benign diseases, the level of DC was significantly decreased, while that of VEGF was significantly increased in the patients with NSCLC(P < 0.05 to 0.01). The levels of DC and VEGF in the peripheral blood of NSCLC were closely associated with TNM stages and lymph node metastasis. However, no correlation was found among the levels of DC and VEGF and age, gender, cell differentiation and histologic classification. There was a negative correlation between the VEGF concentration and the DC counts.

CONCLUSIONSThe decline of DC count in peripheral blood and the enhancement of plasma VEGF are remarkably related to the malignancy of NSCLC. And VEGF overexpression may be one of mechanisms of DC maturation and differentiation inhibition in patients with NSCLC.