Diagnostic Value Of Detection Of Pigment Epithelium-Derived Factor And Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor In Non-Small Ceil Lung Cancer

Objective The aim of this study was to primarily evaluate the diagnostic efficiency of detection of pigment epithelium-derived factor(PEDF) and vascular endothelial growth factor(VEGF) in non small-cell lung cancer(NSCLC), and analyze combination tests if possible.Methods Fifty clinical specimens of peripheral serum were collected from the group of NSCLC patients(n=26) and the group of Control(including healthy people and patients with benign diseases, totally n=24). For both PEDF and VEGF, the protein concentration was examined using enzyme linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA). The differences between the groups of cancer and Control were analyzed. If there was statistical difference for some index, the indices of diagnostic efficiency for NSCLC would then be calculated and analyzed further. In addition, the mRNA level was detected by the semi-quantitative RT-PCR method for some selected serum specimens from two groups, and the differences were then observed.Results For both PEDF and VEGF on the protein level, there was statistical difference between the two groups(P<0.05): Compared with the Control group, the PEDF level in NSCLC group is lower [(423.77 ±187.73) ng/L vs.(1168.38 ±423.05) ng/L, P<0.05] but the VEGF level is higher [(1590.86 ±104.67) ng/L vs.(601.66 ±146.25) ng/L, P<0.05]. With receiver operating characteristic curve analysis and the optimal cut-off points selected then, the indices of diagnostic efficiency of serum PEDF for NSCLC(PEDF≤584ng/L as NSCLC) were: sensitivity 72.3%, specificity 89.0%, positive predictive value 94.2%, negative predictive value 72.3%, accuracy 79.8%; while those indices of serum VEGF for NSCLC(VEGF≥854ng/L as NSCLC) were: sensitivity 80.0%, specificity 76.9%, positive predictive value 76.9%, negative predictive value 80.0%, accuracy 78.4%. When the above two examinations were combined, the diagnostic sensitivity and specificity of cascade connection test for NSCLC(PEDF≤584ng/L AND VEGF≥854ng/L as NSCLC) were 57.8% and 97.7%, respectively; while the sensitivity and specificity of parallel test(PEDF≤584ng/L OR VEGF≥854ng/L as NSCLC) were 94.5% and 68.4%, respectively.Conclusions Detection of PEDF or VEGF in serum might be of subsidiary reference value in the diagnosis of NSCLC. Combination tests of the above two indices could lead to a higher diagnostic sensitivity or specificity.