Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and prostate pathology

Area of Science:

• Urology
• Oncology
• Biochemistry

Background:

• Conflicting previous studies suggest circulating vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) may aid in prostate cancer identification.
• VEGF is a key regulator of angiogenesis, implicated in various cancers.

Purpose of the Study:

• To compare serum VEGF levels across different prostate pathologies in high-risk individuals.
• To determine if VEGF levels can differentiate between benign conditions and prostate cancer.

Main Methods:

• 186 high-risk patients (abnormal DRE and/or tPSA ≥ 2.5 ng/mL) were enrolled.
• Serum VEGF and PSA isoforms measured before biopsy or treatment.
• Logistic regression analyzed the association between VEGF and prostate pathologies.

Main Results:

• Prostate cancer diagnosed in 55.0%, prostatitis in 16.6%, and benign conditions in 27.3%.
• Median VEGF levels were 178.2 (benign), 261.3 (prostatitis), and 266.4 ng/mL (cancer) (p=0.029).
• No significant difference in VEGF between benign and malignant pathologies (p=0.551); no independent association with cancer (aOR=1.44).

Conclusions:

• Circulating VEGF levels lack clinical utility for guiding prostate biopsy decisions in high-risk patients.
• Elevated VEGF in prostatitis patients, often with high PSA, may explain heterogeneous findings in prior research.
• Further investigation is needed to clarify VEGF's role, if any, in prostate disease progression.