Correlation of vascular endothelial growth factor and vascular endothelial growth factor receptor-1 levels in serum and thyroid nodules with histopathological and radiological variables

Gurkan Haytaoglu; Fatih Kuzu; Dilek Arpaci; Ayfer Altas; Murat Can; Figen Barut; Furuzan Kokturk; Sevil Uygun Ilikhan; Taner Bayraktaroglu

doi:10.4103/JLP.JLP_41_18

Journal of Laboratory Physicians, Table of Contents

CC BY-NC-ND 4.0 · J Lab Physicians 2019; 11(01): 051-057
DOI: 10.4103/JLP.JLP_41_18

Original Article

Correlation of vascular endothelial growth factor and vascular endothelial growth factor receptor-1 levels in serum and thyroid nodules with histopathological and radiological variables

Gurkan Haytaoglu

Department of Internal Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Bulent Ecevit University, Zonguldak, Turkey

,

Fatih Kuzu

Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Evliya Çelebi Training and Research Hospital, Dumlupinar University, Kütahya, Turkey

,

Dilek Arpaci

Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Faculty of Medicine, Bulent Ecevit University, Zonguldak, Turkey

,

Ayfer Altas

Department of Internal Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Bulent Ecevit University, Zonguldak, Turkey

,

Murat Can

Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine, Bulent Ecevit University, Zonguldak, Turkey

,

Figen Barut

Department of Pathology, Faculty of Medicine, Bulent Ecevit University, Zonguldak, Turkey

,

Furuzan Kokturk

Department of Biostatistics, Faculty of Medicine, Bulent Ecevit University, Zonguldak, Turkey

,

Sevil Uygun Ilikhan

Department of Internal Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Bulent Ecevit University, Zonguldak, Turkey

,

Taner Bayraktaroglu

Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Evliya Çelebi Training and Research Hospital, Dumlupinar University, Kütahya, Turkey

› Author Affiliations

Abstract

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Abstract

BACKGROUND/AIM: Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) is a major cytokine in angiogenesis and has a role on aggressivity of various tumors. The expression of VEGF has been shown to increase in differential thyroid cancer. The aim of the study was to evaluate serum and intranodular VEGF (nVEGF) and VEGF receptor-1 (VEGFR-1) levels in patients with thyroid nodules and their relevance to ultrasonographic and pathological results.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of eighty patients were included in the study. Thyroid fine-needle aspiration biopsies were performed, and the levels of serum and nVEGF and VEGFR-1 were measured. Any possible correlations between serum and nVEGF, VEGFR-1, and biochemical/radiological variables were investigated.

RESULTS: There were no significant differences between serum VEGF (sVEGF), nVEGF, sVEGFR-1, nVEGFR-1 levels, number of nodules, size of nodules, and benign and malignant ultrasonographic features. sVEGF and nVEGF were higher in malignant or suspicious nodules than that in benign nodules, but did not reach statistical significance (P > 0.05). sVEGFR-1 and nVEGFR-1 levels were higher in hyperthyroid patients than that in euthyroid patients (P < 0.05 and P = 0.003, respectively). nVEGFR-1 level was higher in hypothyroid patients than that in euthyroid patients (P = 0.016). sVEGF level was found to be higher in hyperactive nodules than that in others. Both sVEGFR-1 (P = 0.008) and nVEGF levels (P = 0.01) significantly increased with increasing age. nVEGFR-1 decreased with increasing body mass index (BMI) (P = 0.004).

CONCLUSIONS: Our study showed the relationships of sVEGF, nVEGF, sVEGFR-1, and nVEGFR-1 levels with age, gender, BMI, and hyperthyroidism. To determine the role of VEGF/VEGFR-1 in thyroid nodules, further studies are required with a large number of patients.

Key words

Malignancy - nodule - thyroid

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References

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