Vascular endothelial growth factor is an autocrine growth factor in human malignant mesothelioma

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Abstract
Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), a potent mitogen for vascular endothelium, is expressed in malignant pleural mesothelioma (MM). The present report examines the effect of VEGF on MM growth. Four MM cell lines produced significantly higher VEGF levels than normal mesothelial cells (1946±14 pg/ml vs. 180±17 pg/ml; ppr=0.72; pr=0.26; p=0.42) or pleural effusion (r=0.35; p=0.26) VEGF levels. These results indicate that VEGF, via activation of its tyrosine kinase receptors, may be a key regulator of MM growth. In addition, VEGF production could have an impact on patient survival, not only by promoting tumour angiogenesis but also by directly stimulating tumour growth. Copyright © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.