Objective To explore the changes and clinical significances of serum vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and endostatin concentrations for early detection of lung cancer in elderly long-term smokers. Methods Serum VEGF and endostatin concentrations were determined in 52 elderly long-term smokers and 20 elderly non-smokers by enzyme linked immunoabsent assay (ELISA) or competitive enzyme immunoassay. The 52 elderly long-term smokers were divided into lung cancer group (n = 32) and non-lung cancer group (n = 20). Results The concentration of serum VEGF was markedly higher in lung cancer group [(15. 7±8. 0) ng/L] than in non-lung cancer group and normal control group (t= 13. 681, t= 9. 372, respectively, both P＜0. 01). And the level of serum VEGF was significantly higher in non-lung cancer group than in normal control group (t=5. 250, P＜0. 05). The level of serum endostatin was significantly higher in elderly long-term smokers with or without lung cancer than in normal control group (t=5. 332, t=3. 700, respectively, P＜0. 01 and P＜0.05). But there was no statistic difference between non-lung cancer group and lung cancer group (t = 0. 814, P＞ 0.05 ). Notably, the endostatin/VEGF ratio was lower in lung cancer group than in non-lung cancer group and normal control group (t= 6. 270, t= 7. 138, respectively, both P＜0.01), while there was no significant difference between non-lung cancer group and normal control group (t= 1. 022, P＞0.05). Conclusions These findings suggest that the periodic detection of serum VEGF and endostatin and endostatin/VEGF ratio, especially endostatin/VEGF ratio, is of clinical importance and can be used as an early diagnostic marker of lung cancer in elderly long-term smokers.

Aptamers are a group of artificial oligonucleotides identified by exponential enrichment system evolution technology (Selective expansion of ligands by exponential enrichment, SELEX). Aptamers have been widely used in basic research, clinical diagnostics, and nano-technology. In this article we will introduce the technology of aptamer and summarize its applications in medical microbiology.
Aptamers, Nucleotide ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Microbiological Techniques ; methods ; Microbiology ; SELEX Aptamer Technique ; methods ; trends