BLOOD AND URINE CONCENTRATIONS OF VASCULAR ENDOTHELIAL GROWTH FACTOR IN DOGS WITH TUMOURS.

Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) is a potent mitogen for vascular endothelial cells. It improves cell survival, stimulates angiogenesis, inhibits cell apoptosis and strongly enhances vascular permeability. In this study, VEGF concentrations were assayed in blood plasma and urine of 22 dogs with neoplasms (lymphosarcoma, splenic haemangiosarcoma and mammary gland carcinoma) and in 7 healthy dogs by means of ELISA. Average blood plasma VEGF in control dogs was 42.13 ± 7.37 pg/mL, while in dogs with lymphoma - 113.35 ± 16.48 pg/mL, in dogs with haemangiosarcoma - 154.85 ± 48.46 pg/mL and in dogs with mammary gland carcinoma - 104.31 ± 12.45 pg/mL. Urine VEGF concentrations in dogs affected with lymphosarcoma were 712.42 ± 233.85 ng/g uCr, in animals with haemangiosarcoma - 223.50 ± 262.33 ng/g uCr and in those with mammary carcinoma: 1053.92 ± 311.63 ng/g uCr. In healthy controls average urine VEGF was 310.11 ± 28.11 ng/g uCr. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]