[Fibroblast growth factor (b-FGF) in serum and urine of patients with head-neck malignancies]

The angiogenic peptide basic fibroblast growth factor (b-FGF) has been suggested to significantly promote angiogenesis; a central event for the growth and metastasis of solid tumors. Elevated levels of b-FGF in the serum and urine of patients with various types of cancer have been reported. No information exists about b-FGF levels in patients with primary head and neck cancer. The present study was performed to determine serum and urine levels of b-FGF in these patients.

b-FGF was quantified in the urine of 50 (62.5%) patients with head and neck cancer as well as 30 (37.5%) patients with diseases unrelated to cancer using an immunoassay with a detection limit of 1.0 pg/ml (FGF basic "Quantikine", DFB00. Biermann GmbH, Bad Nauheim, Germany). Urine was collected from patients before breakfast and centrifuged for 10 min at 1000 g. The supernatants were stored at -80 degrees C until the assay was performed.

In the serum and urine of all patients, b-FGF was detectable by immunoassay. Cancer patients revealed significant increased serum b-FGF concentrations, in addition, advanced tumor size (T3/4) showed significant increased b-FGF levels in both serum and urine. There seems to be a correlation between serum b-FGF concentrations with degree of histologic differentiation.

The results of this study demonstrate that b-FGF levels are elevated in serum and urine of patients with primary head and neck cancer. These findings suggest an involvement of b-FGF in the formation of solid tumors. The value of b-FGF as a non-invasive monitoring of treatment response in cancer therapy, the correlation with angiogenesis in histologic sections as well immunohistochemical detection are the aim of further investigations.