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Elevated levels of circulating endothelial progenitor cells in head and neck cancer patients
Author(s) -
Brunner Markus,
Thurnher Dietmar,
Heiduschka Gregor,
Grasl Matthaeus Ch,
Brostjan Christine,
Erovic Boban M.
Publication year - 2008
Publication title -
journal of surgical oncology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.201
H-Index - 111
eISSN - 1096-9098
pISSN - 0022-4790
DOI - 10.1002/jso.21139
Subject(s) - medicine , cd31 , surrogate endpoint , cd146 , progenitor cell , head and neck cancer , prospective cohort study , head and neck squamous cell carcinoma , circulating tumor cell , oncology , cohort , radiation therapy , flow cytometry , cancer , gastroenterology , urology , pathology , stem cell , cd34 , angiogenesis , immunology , metastasis , biology , genetics
Background and Objectives Measurement of circulating endothelial cells (CECs) and progenitor cells (EPCs) has potential as a surrogate marker for monitoring anticancer treatment. This study evaluated the significance of CECs and EPCs in the blood of patients with head and neck squamous cell carcinoma. Methods In a prospective trial fresh blood samples from 22 tumor patients and 18 controls were tested using multiparametric flow‐cytometry. CECs were defined as CD31 + /CD146 + and CD45 − /7AAD − . EPCs were defined as CD133 + /KDR + and CD3 − /CD19 − /CD33 − /7AAD − . Results Median levels (min/max) of CECs in the tumor group were 2 (0/5) at the time of diagnosis, 1 (0/5) 1 year after therapy and 2 (0/6) in the control cohort. Median levels of EPCs were 5 (1/41) before and 10 (0/21) after treatment in the tumor group compared to 2 (0/7) in the control cohort ( P < 0.001 and P = 0.03). CEC and EPC levels showed no apparent correlation with tumor size and response to radiotherapy after 18 months of observation. Conclusions In this pilot study CD133 + /KDR + EPCs were significantly elevated in head and neck tumor patients before and after therapy. Our results warrant further studies on the use of EPCs as a surrogate marker for anticancer therapies in these patients. J. Surg. Oncol. 2008;98:545–550. © 2008 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.