Elevated Plasma Platelet-derived Growth Factor B-Chain Levels in Cancer Patients

Kim Leitzel, Warren Bryce, Joseph Tomita, George Manderino, Ilse Tribby, Arlen Thomason, Melvin Billingsley, Edward Podczaski, Harold Harvey, Allan Lipton

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58 Scopus citations

Abstract

Platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF) is produced by a variety of normal and tumor cells in vitro. We have developed an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay for the detection of the B-chain of PDGF. This assay can reliably detect 0.1 ng/ml of homodimeric recombinant PDGF B-chain and does not cross-react with recombinant PDGF-AA, epidermal growth factor, basic fibroblast growth factor, or transforming growth factor-β. Citrated plasma from 72 control individuals had a PDGF B-chain (PDGF-B) level of 032 ± 0.14 ng/ml (mean ± SD) with a range of 0.10-0.69 ng/ml. The plasma platelet factor 4 (PF4) level was 97 ± 70 ng/ml, with a range of 34-363 ng/ml. Citrated plasma was obtained from 131 cancer patients, and plasma PDGF-B was elevated in 19 (15%) of the patients. Both PDGF-B and PF4 were elevated in 14 (11%) of these patients, consistent with a platelet source of PDGF-B. In 5 patients (4%), however, PDGF-B was elevated and PF4 was not elevated compared to the control group. This last group of patients may have a tumor-derived source of PDGF-B which could be important in autocrine or paracrine growth stimulation of the tumor cells.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)4149-4154
Number of pages6
JournalCancer Research
Volume51
Issue number16
StatePublished - Aug 15 1991

All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes

  • Oncology
  • Cancer Research

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