Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor (VEGF) and Interleukine (IL)- 6 in serum and seroma after breast cancer surgery

Nahida Srabovic, Adaleta Softic, Samra Hasanbasic, Adi Rifatbegovic, Jasminka Mujanovic Mustedanagic, Aida Smajlovic, Esmeralda Dautovic, Zdeno Muminovic, Selma Hadziabdic, Admira Dervisevic, Zlata Mujagic

Abstract


Due to better understanding complex immune-inflammatory responses following surgical injury, the aim of present study was to investigate the changes of VEGF and IL-6 levels in serum and seroma of invasive breast cancer patients after surgery and their correlation with breast cancer tumour expression of VEGF Samples from 20 breast cancer patients and 15 benign breast disease patients were included in the study. Immunohistochemical staining was used for determining VEGF expression in tissue samples from tumour, stromal and normal breast. Measuring VEGF and IL-6 levels was conducted by ELISA. Differences in VEGF expression between tumour and stroma (p=0,007) and between tumour and normal breast tissue were significant (p=0,0001), as well as differences in VEGF expression between stromal and normal breast tissue (p=0,004). Serum level of VEGF was higher in patients with breast cancer then in patients with benign breast disease, before surgery (p=0,023).VEGF was significantly elevated postoperatively in serum (p=0,009) and seroma (p=0,0001) in patients with breast cancer. Level of IL-6 was elevated after surgery in serum (p=0,015) and seroma (p=0,0001) in patients with breast cancer, as well as in serum of patients with benign breast disease (p=0,018). Significant correlation was found between seroma levels of VEGF and IL-6 in breast cancer patients (p=0,009). The findings suggest involvement of VEGF and IL-6 in physiological changes after breast cancer surgery.


Keywords


breast cancer; VEGF; IL-6; surgery; wound healing

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DOI: 10.5457/ams.v45i1-2.434