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document
Overexpression of vascular endothelial growth factor ( VEGF ) and its cellular receptor KDR ( VEGFR-2 ) in the bone marrow of patients with acute myeloid leukemia . Vascular endothelial growth factor ( VEGF ) and its cellular receptor VEGFR-2 have been implicated as the main endothelial pathway required for tumor neovascularization . However , the importance of the VEGF/VEGFR-2 system for angiogenesis in hematologic malignancies such as AML remains to be elucidated . In 32 patients with newly diagnosed untreated AML , we observed by immunohistochemical analysis of bone marrow biopsies significantly higher levels of VEGF and VEGFR-2 expression than in 10 control patients ( P < 0.001 ) . In contrast , VEGFR-1 staining levels in AML patients were in the same range as in the controls . Expression of VEGF and VEGFR-2 was significantly higher in patients with a high degree of microvessel density compared to those with a low degree ( VEGF : P =0.024 ; VEGFR-2 : P =0.040 ) and correlated well with bone marrow microvessel density ( r ( s ) =0.566 and 0.609 , respectively ; P < 0.001 ) . Furthermore , in patients who achieved a complete remission following induction chemotherapy VEGFR-2 staining levels decreased into the normal range . In conclusion , our results provide evidence for increased expression of VEGF/VEGFR-2 of leukemic blasts and correlation with angiogenesis in the bone marrow of AML patients . Thus , VEGF/VEGFR-2 might constitute promising targets for antiangiogenic and antileukemic treatment strategies in AML .
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Intervention_Physical
immunohistochemical analysis of bone marrow biopsies
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Intervention_Pharmacological
induction chemotherapy
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Intervention_Other
antiangiogenic
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Outcome_Physical
Expression of VEGF and VEGFR-2
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Outcome_Physical
remission
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Outcome_Physical
VEGFR-2 staining levels
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Outcome_Physical
VEGF/VEGFR-2 of leukemic blasts
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Participant_Condition
bone marrow of patients with acute myeloid leukemia .