Serum vascular endothelial growth factor in dogs with various proliferative diseases

Angiogenesis plays an important role in the proliferation and metastasis mechanisms of malignant tumors. Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), a group of cytokines that contribute to angiogenesis and vasculogenesis. This study aimed to investigate the serum VEGF-A concentrations in dogs with various proliferative diseases. A total of 202 dogs that were histopathologically diagnosed with proliferative diseases were included in the study. Serum VEGF-A concentrations were measured using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Median serum VEGF-A concentrations in dogs were as follows: healthy dogs, 4 pg/ml [0-21 pg/ml]; hepatocellular carcinoma, 30 pg/ml [0-158 pg/ml, P=<0.001]; hepatocellular adenoma, 32 pg/ml [0-49 pg/ml, P=0.003]; hepatic nodular hyperplasia, 18 pg/ml [0-51 pg/ml, P=0.595]; adrenal pheochromocytoma, 32 pg/ml [0-187 pg/ml, P=<0.001]; adrenocortical carcinoma, 32 pg/ml [3-161 pg/ml, P=0.002]; adrenocortical adenoma, 27 pg/ml [0-106 pg/ml, P=0.005]; colorectal adenocarcinoma, 36 pg/ml [0-75 pg/ml, P=0.002]; colorectal adenoma, 43 pg/ml [0-48 pg/ml, P=0.144]; inflammatory colorectal polyps, 37 pg/ml [0-111 pg/ml, P=<0.001]; pulmonary adenocarcinoma, 35 pg/ml [4-107 pg/ml, P=0.002]; pulmonary histiocytic sarcoma, 35 pg/ml [0-131 pg/ml, P=0.016]; and follicular thyroid carcinoma, 35 pg/ml [0-106 pg/ml, P=0.009]. The serum VEGF-A concentrations were significantly higher in dogs with neoplastic lesions compared to healthy dogs, except for colorectal adenoma. High serum VEGF-A concentrations were observed in dogs with proliferative diseases. The present study suggests that angiogenesis-inhibiting therapy, which targets VEGF-A, may be useful for canine neoplastic diseases.