Vascular endothelial growth factor and basic fibroblast growth factor evaluation in blood serum of patients with hormonally active and inactive adrenal gland tumours

The vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) levels of 36 patients with adrenal gland tumours were analysed. The mean age of patients was 43 years (29-67 years), and there were 25 women (69.4%) and 11 men (31.6%). In 34 patients adrenalectomy was performed and in two cases lesions were considered inoperable in all cases VEGF and bFGF were measured preoperatively and in all operated patients the level of VEGF was measured at 1 month postoperatively. A statistically significant increase in VEGF levels before surgery in comparison with the controls was recorded in all patients with adrenal tumours. No correlation between the size of a tumour and VEGF levels was observed. The serum level of VEGF decreased in patients after surgical removal of the tumour, no matter which type of tumour, with the exception of a patient showing a recurrence of cortex cancer. A statistically significant decrease was found only in patients operated on for cortex cancers and hormonally active and inactive cortex and medulla inactive benign tumours. The postoperative recurrence of the malignant tumour may be preceded by an increase in plasma VEGF levels. Such correlations were not found with bFGF.