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Thromb Haemost 2007; 98(02): 440-450
DOI: 10.1160/TH07-03-0225
Cellular Proteolysis and Oncology
Schattauer GmbH

VEGFR2 expressing circulating (progenitor) cell populations in volunteers and cancer patients

Laura Vroling
1   Departments of Medical Oncology, VU University Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
,
Yuana Yuana
1   Departments of Medical Oncology, VU University Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
,
Gerrit Jan Schuurhuis
2   Departments of Hematology, VU University Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
,
Victor W. M. van Hinsbergh
3   Departments of Physiology, VU University Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
,
Chad Gundy
4   Departments of Clinical Epidemiology and Biostatistics, VU University Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
,
Richard de Haas
1   Departments of Medical Oncology, VU University Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
,
Hester van Cruijsen
1   Departments of Medical Oncology, VU University Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
,
Epie Boven
1   Departments of Medical Oncology, VU University Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
,
Klaas Hoekman
1   Departments of Medical Oncology, VU University Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
,
Henk J. Broxterman
1   Departments of Medical Oncology, VU University Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
› Author Affiliations
Further Information

Publication History

Received 27 March 2007

Accepted after resubmission 03 May 2007

Publication Date:
28 November 2017 (online)

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Summary

Circulating cells of several lineages are thought to participate in angiogenesis and tumor growth. Experimental studies in tumorbearing mice have pointed to the potential importance of VEGFresponding circulating (endothelial) progenitor cells in tumor growth.We have studied circulating CD31- and/or CD34-positive cell populations with a low to moderateVEGFR2 expression in human volunteers and cancer patients. We recognized four cell populations, which were further characterized by their content of major hematopoetic progenitor, monocytic, endothelial and platelet markers. After establishing the test-retest stability of the measurements in nine patients, we determined the frequencies of the various cell populations in a group of 20 volunteers and 14 cancer patients.Two populations were markedly increased in cancer patients. Small CD45neg /CD34bright/VEGFR2+ cells amounted to 12 and 64 cells/ml (P<0.0001), respectively, and 246/ml and 578/ml VEGFR2+/CD45bright (/CD14+) monocytic cells were present in controls and cancer patients, respectively (P=0.017). A third population of CD45dim/CD34bright/ VEGFR2low cells amounted to 25 and 30 cells/ml (P=0.38).Unexpectedly, a population of mainly anucleated CD45low/CD31bright/ CD41bright cells was present in numbers of 9,076 and 16,697/ml (P=0.04) in volunteers and cancer patients, which contained a VEGFR2low (compared to IgG isotype control) expressing population amounting to 1,142 and 1,642 cells/ml (P=0.12). This fourth population probably reflects large platelets. The role of the herein identified VEGFR2+ circulating cell populations deserve further investigation in cancer patients treated with VEGF(R)-targeted therapies. Quantification of such cell populations in the blood of tumor patients may be valuable to monitor the efficacy of anti-angiogenic treatment.

Keywords

Circulating progenitor cells - circulating endothelial cells - VEGFR2 - KDR - CD31 - peripheral blood - large platelets - cancer
 

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