Levels of angiogenic peptides in sera from patients with carcinoid tumours during alpha-interferon treatment

BACKGROUND: Alpha-interferon, a known inhibitor of angiogenesis and cell proliferation, is used in the standard treatment of patients with carcinoid tumors. We studied the levels of two angiogenic peptides (bFGF and VEGF) in sera from patients with carcinoid tumours before and during treatment with alpha-interferon. The aim was to investigate if the antitumoral effect of alpha-interferon in these patients could be at least in part explained by a reduction in the measured angiogenetic peptides. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Sera from 29 patients with carcinoid tumours were collected before and during alpha-interferon treatment and analyzed using commercially available ELISA-kits. RESULTS: Interferon alpha treatment did not cause reduction of bFGF and VEGF levels in serum from patients with carcinoid tumours. In fact there was no correlation between changes in bFGF or VEGF levels and treatment effect. CONCLUSION: The action of alpha-interferon does not seem to be mediated by bFGF or VEGF in patients with carcinoid tumours. If alpha-interferon has an anti-angiogenic effect in this patient group, it is probably mediated by angiogenic peptides other than bFGF and VEGF.

Tiensuu Janson, EvaUppsala universitet,Institutionen för medicinska vetenskaper,Onkologisk endokrinologi (författare)
Eriksson, BarbroUppsala universitet,Institutionen för medicinska vetenskaper,Endokrin tumörbiologi (författare)
Larsson, AndersUppsala universitet,Institutionen för medicinska vetenskaper,Biokemisk struktur och funktion (författare)
Uppsala universitetInstitutionen för medicinska vetenskaper (creator_code:org_t)

Av författaren/redakt...: Nilsson, A; Tiensuu Janson, ...; Eriksson, Barbro; Larsson, Anders

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